Sugar Ants Habitat and Activity

Aug 8
17:01

2012

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

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Sugar ants prefer to live and forage for food in suburban areas. In the wild, sugar ants typically dwell in woodlands, forests and heaths.

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Sugar ants are primarily found to be interested in taking in honey dew from the aphids and caterpillars. Hence,Sugar Ants Habitat and Activity Articles these ants are also interested to feed on sugary food items or sugars. Sugar ants were also found to be feeding on other small insects. Ants are found to be interested in reaching towards the sugar as they can feel the sense of honey dew.

Sugar ant colonies can be found in soil, between rocks, in holes in wood and around the twigs of trees or shrubs. When sugar ants build their nests in soil, they can be recognized by large dirt hills surrounding the colonies' entrances. They can be found foraging under house lights and in streets during warm summer months and prefer warm and humid climates.

Habitat affects the size of sugar ants because different locations provide different sources of food. Ranging from two to 15 millimeters in size, sugar ants feed on nectar, secretions of various plants, sugary foods, insects, small animals and plant-eating invertebrates such as the caterpillar. Sugar ants prefer honeydew from aphids and protect aphids from other predators to ensure the safety of their food source.

The eggs queen sugar ants produce in late spring or early autumn can hatch into new queens or males. Winged, male sugar ants with royal blood are completely black, while female workers have orange-colored bodies. During autumn season, thousands of alate males mate in the air, while sugar ant workers keep guard on the ground.

When they locate a reliable source of food inside a home, sugar ants can become a nuisance. If you suspect a sugar ant infestation of your home, check your kitchen, pantry and food containers. Sugar ants are attracted to spills, stains and other food traces, as well. Workers are seen at dusk moving along marked trails in search of food, and they return to their nests at dawn. It can be difficult to locate a sugar ant nest due to their nocturnal behaviors.

Killing sugar ants is fairly easy, and the surest way is to set out ant baits. There are several types to choose from, so it is a matter of making an educated decision. Sweet baits are the most common used method of killing sugar ants. Most all of these baits will contain boric acid, also known as Borax. Borax is usually non-toxic to humans, but ingestion isn't recommended. If you have children or pets this style of eradication isn't recommended. This mineral is poisonous to ants, and has the ability to kill a whole colony. The trap works by luring ants to partake in the sweet boric acid, from there the ants will then take a portion of it back to their dwelling. After the other ants consume the bait very soon the whole colony will be exterminated.

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