NPIPM:Lasius neoniger
Authors: Ashley Mueller, Buyung Hadi
Ants are one of the most common pests that can be found in and around homes. Ants are social insects, and they live together in colonies. They are divided into three classes called castes: queens, males, and workers. Each caste serves the colony in specific way. Queens lay eggs and care for the brood; males play a vital role in reproduction; and workers provide food to the colony by foraging. Ants use pheromones to create invisible odor trails. The workers follow the odor trails to and from the nest while foraging for food. Indoors, ants are often seen following trails.
Although ants can be a nuisance, they can also contaminate food, wreak havoc on yards, and cause structural damage to buildings. There are many ways homeowners can prevent ants from coming indoors. Identifying problematic ants is essential in determining how an infestation is managed.
Identification
Turfgrass ant workers are about 1/8 inch long and are reddish-brown in color with a single node on the pedicel, the stem structure relating the abdomen to the thorax. They build their nest mostly in the upper layer of the soil with a characteristic mound for nest entrances. Each colony may have multiple entrances to its nest, which are surrounded by the distinguishing crater-like rings of excavated soil. The ant hills can be 2 to 5 inches in diameter.
Habitat
The turfgrass ant, also known as the sidewalk ant, can be commonly found in well-drained soils of sunny turf surfaces in yards, parks, and golf courses. These ants construct nests with shallow, connected chambers that are typically found in the upper 12 inches of soil.
Turfgrass ants may be found indoors foraging for food.
Life Cycle and Seasonal History
Established and new turfgrass ant colonies that have survived winter resume activity in late spring. The creation of mounds increases by mid-summer, indicating the presence of new adult workers.
In mature turfgrass ant colonies, the offspring develops into winged females and males in late summer and early fall. The winged turfgrass ants swarm and mate, and after mating, the males die. The mated females disperse to find a suitable sites for nesting, where they start new colonies.
Human Interaction and Urban Impact
In some cases, turfgrass ants are economically important pests. In newly seeded areas, turfgrass ants may be problematic when they collect seeds and take them to the colony for later consumption. Turfgrass ant mounds on short-cut grass, like golf tees, fairways, and greens, can affect ball roll and smother the surrounding grass when compacted by foot or mower traffic. In high numbers, the mounds can be unsightly and can create a bumpy, uneven walking surface.
In high-cut turfgrass, this ant can be considered beneficial because it feeds on turfgrass pests such as the eggs of the Japanese and June beetles and small larvae of white grubs and cutworms.
Turfgrass ants may bite when disturbed, but due to their small size, bites will likely go unnoticed. Any medical questions or concerns related to a turfgrass ant bite should be directed towards a physician.
Prevention and Management Approaches
If pavement ants are found indoors, a simple exclusion step of sealing potential entries into the building should be sufficient to avoid future strays. Wiping a sponge dipped in soapy water over the ant trail kills the ants, and it is effective in removing pheromones.
In parts of the lawn where the presence of turfgrass ants is not desirable, colony management can be achieved by using insecticides. Although liquid and granular insecticides provide quick suppression of ant populations, they do not destroy the whole colony. Insecticidal baits provide a more thorough long-term control of turfgrass ant colonies, but they do take longer to be effective. Always use precaution and follow the label carefully before using any insecticide. Insecticides have a certain amount of toxicity to mammals; children and pets are especially at risk.
Other Online Resources
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
For information regarding labels of chemical control options, please visit NPIC MAPL
