Size, Shape and Colour: 2-3mm in length, this common ant has a large head and narrow thorax, the legs are of reasonable length. Antennae is elbowed and they are a glossy black in colour.
Biology: To start with the queen ant will lay a initial batch of eggs, batches vary in amounts, around 3-4 weeks later grubs will hatch, following this 3 weeks later the larvae mature, finally 2 weeks after pupation the adult ants emerge. In the late summer winged and mature males will proceed to leave the nest and mate. They mate on wing, hence flying ant swarms. The males will die off, however the females will seek new nest sites. Ants nests can contain many thousands, these social pests follow a strict chain of command within a colony tending to various functions.
Preferred Foods: Sweet spillages, although outside of human habitations they have a wide food range including much organic matter.
Habitat: Due to them being a common ant the areas of activity are never far from human dwellings, they will enter most buildings to search for a food source sometimes in large numbers. Nests can sometimes be in very inaccessible areas within the fabric of the building, small defects such as cracks, pipes & cable holes provide ants with ideal entry points to properties.
