Description

One of the most common species of ants across the world, different members of the colony will have a slightly different appearance. Workers are dark brownblack and reach 3-5mm in length. The queens are mid brown and much larger, they can reach 15mm long. The queen is characterized by 2 pairs of wings which are fore and hind wings hooked together. Once mated, she removes the wings and eats them for nutrition over the winter months. Widespread across Europe, North America and Australasia Generally, nests are located outdoors; they can be built in soil, hollowed trees, found in grasses or under paving slabs, behind fascias or any building voids. Foraging workers enter houses regularly in search of food, preferably sweet foods.

Risks

This insect damages animal based materials in homes e.g. wool, silk, fur etc… They eat large

irregular shaped holes in a wide variety of fabrics. The larvae also leave behind shells as they

moult, which are a known cause of allergies in some humans.

They are often spotted in the home as they crawl across the surface of fabrics and tend to feed at

the top of the carpet rather than down in the base fibres.

Commonly found feeding on dried foods also, they contaminate it with faeces and discarded shells.