Ants in timber in Queensland
B.C. Peters, J.King and F.R. Wylie
Ants are social insects, living in colonies. There are hundreds of native species, some associated with timber, but none of the ant species present in Australia damages timber which is in good condition. In their natural environment they are important as predators and scavengers and contribute to the recycling of nutrients to the soil. In domestic and industrial situations they can be a problem.
This publication deals with the biology, damage and management of several important species of ants which may be associated with timber in Queensland. Distinguishing between ants and termites is discussed.
Biology
Colonies are active all year and can become very large. A colony includes a queen, workers and, in most species, soldiers. All are without wings. The queen controls the colony and lays eggs, the workers care for the brood, clean and maintain the nest and forage for food, and the soldiers protect the colony.
At certain times of year winged males and females fly from the nest. After mating the male dies and the female finds a nest site, sheds her wings and begins to lay eggs. She cares for the larvae, which will develop into the first workers of the new colony.
Workers will travel relatively long distances from the nest when foraging. They mark their pathways with chemical secretions and communicate by grooming one another and sharing food, so that once food has been discovered the number of workers around it quickly increases. Adult ants feed on liquids transported internally. At the nest the food is regurgitated and shared, or stored. Solid material collected by workers is fed to the larvae.
Different species prefer different foods. Some are predators and scavengers, feeding on insects and other sources of animal protein and fat. Others prefer sweet foods, taking nectar and honeydew, and some take a wide variety. Knowledge of food preferences can be useful in controlling ants.
In natural situations most species nest in soil, amongst rocks and in decaying timber. Soil nests may be deep under ground. Large nests consist of several interconnecting tunnels and chambers. The nest usually has several entrances which, in some species, may be surrounded by a raised mound or turret of soil.
Many species protect the colony by biting or stinging intruders and the stings can be extremely painful.
Damage
Most ants do not cause problems, but a few are pests in the garden and in buildings. They will infest decaying timber in retaining walls, fences and in buildings, and their activity is often mistaken for that of wood-eating species.
Workers foraging in buildings generally come from external nests. A few species nest in wall cavities, ceiling spaces and behind skirting boards. Internal nests can be very difficult to eradicate.
Small piles of gritty material often appear by door and window frames and skirting boards, and reappear each time they are cleaned up. Similar material falls from timber ceilings and collects on furniture and floor coverings. The debris is produced by ants and can include faecal pellets, wood fragments, dust and fibres and the remains of insects and spiders, as shown by microscopic examination.
Ants keep their trails and nest clean by collecting and dumping waste and litter. Rubbish is often dumped from the same outlet, hence the regular reappearance of debris. Movement and friction in wall frames and ceiling timbers can produce small wood fragments. New houses usually have carpentry dust in the wall cavities and roof space. Ants discard the wood fragments with other debris, giving the impression that timber is being damaged. However, as previously stated, in Australia ants do not damage sound timber and the wood fragments in debris are associated with cleaning activities.
Management
Hygiene is important. Food preparation and eating areas should be kept free of food particles and waste, and susceptible foods stored in airtight containers or in the refrigerator. Where pets are fed regularly in one place, leftovers should be cleaned up immediately. Decaying timber, which would provide nesting sites, should be removed.
Several insecticides in liquid, powder or granular form are available for use against ground-nesting species. The most effective method is to find the nest and destroy it. Nest entrances can often be located by following ants carrying food and small pieces of sweet food or cooked meat may be used as bait. An insecticide is then introduced. Trails can be sprayed, but this is not effective because surviving ants will mark new trails away from the treated areas.
Pouring boiling water into soil nests does not work. Nests are often deep down and even if the water reaches the nest the water will have cooled. Commercially prepared bait toxicants or ant baits are effective against some species, such as black house ants and minute ants, which take sweet foods. The sweet mixture contains a slow acting poison, and it is carried back to the nest by foragers and shared within the colony. The bait is placed next to an existing trail and should be offered as long as there are ants collecting it. It may take some time to eradicate a large colony. Baits are useful where the colony is inaccessible or the nest cannot be found, for example nests in roof spaces and wall cavities. However, persistent infestations in buildings should be treated by a pest controller.
Important ant species
- Figure 1. Black house ant Iridomyrmex glaber
The black house ant (Figure 1), and a few related species, are shining black and two to three mm long. Nests are normally in the ground, under bark or in decaying timber. Trails, which are well defined, may extend over long distances and go up into shrubs and trees, where the ants feed on honeydew from sap-sucking insects. They can nest in roof or wall spaces. The group includes species which track across ceilings, beams and joists and drop ant debris onto surfaces below. Black house ants prefer sweet foods.
- Figure 2. Coastal brown ant Pheidole megacephala
Coastal brown ant Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius)
These ants (Figure 2) are two to three mm long. The soldiers have very large heads. Coastal brown ants often nest between pavers and along pathways and will throw out soil. They also infest wall cavities, leaving piles of debris at the nest entrance. Nests can become very large. Proteins and fats are preferred to sweet foods.
- Figure 3. Minute ant Plagiolepsis allaudi
Minute ant Plagiolepsis allaudi Emery.
These very small, golden brown ants (Figure 3) are about one mm long and can be difficult to see. They nest in soil but will forage in buildings. Minute ants take a variety of foods, scavenging on dead insects, dried dog and cat food, and in the sugar bowl.
- Figure 4. Greenhead ant Rhytidoponera metallic
Greenhead ant Rhytidoponera metallica (Smith)
This ant (Figure 4) and a few related species are four to six mm long, with a metallic green head and metallic black-green thorax and abdomen. They do not usually enter houses but can be a nuisance in gardens, where they nest in lawns and rockeries. Nests are easily located. Greenhead ants can inflict a very painful sting.
Distinguishing between ants and termites
Ants and termites are both found in timber. Ants will only infest timber which is already damaged and decayed, they do not initiate damage.
Termites cause serious damage to sound timber. The two groups of insects can be easily distinguished from one another.
Wingless insects
- Figure 5. Wingless ant
Ants: All species are strongly coloured orange- or red-brown, green, brown or black or a combination of these colours, the integument is not semitransparent. All ants have a distinct, narrow waist (Figure 5).
- Figure 6. Wingless termite
Termites: All species are creamy white in colour with a thin integument so that the contents of the abdomen are often visible. The body is parallel sided, without a distinct waist (Figure 6).
Winged insects
- Figure 7. Winged ant
Ants: The body has a distinct waist (Figure 7). The fore wings are larger than the hind wings but are about the same length or slightly longer than the body, with clearly defined dark veins. Winged ants do not readily shed their wings.
- Figure 8. Winged termite
Source of information:
Peters, B.C., J. King, & F.R. Wylie. (1996) Pests of Timber in Queensland. Queensland Forestry Research Institute, Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane, 175 pp. Available from Queensland Government Publications
Related DPI&F notes
Anobiid beetles in timber in Queensland
Borers and the householder in Queensland
Drywood termites in Queensland
Powderpost beetles in Queensland timber
Subterranean-termite-baiting systems
Subterranean termite infestation in buildings
Subterranean termites in Queensland
Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.
Last updated 24 January 2007
