Pest Library

Characteristics

As the name suggests, this velvety tree ant got its name from having a velvety abdomen. Their family is made by a queen, workers, and female and male alates. Workers are small and measures between 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch in length. Their velvety abdomen is black with a reddish midsection, and brown head. When these ants are crushed, they emit a very distinct odor that can be very unpleasant.

Habitat

These ants live in decaying wood, such as dead tree trunks, or logs. They mostly prefer trees that are found alongside streams and creeks. However, they can also create nests far from their water source. Colonies that are a little bit further away from their water source have a bigger chance of creating a successful colony than nests that are near their water source.

Their colonies are very large and they may sometimes create satellite colonies that they have togo back and forth so that they can maintain them.

Behavior

These ants are great foragers and will search for sweetsand any type of food that they can consume in homes. Workers will move around in lines or trails to go from their nest to their food source. When they enter indoors, they will use tree branches or other structures to get in.

Velvety tree ants are known to be aggressive and can inject a poisonous bite to their victim. They will also emit an unpleasant odor as they scatter away from danger. Although these ants can be aggressive, they are also known to be pollinators of flowers. They may be seen sipping the nectars of flowers from a cherry tree.

Food

They prefer the honeydew made by aphids mealy bugs and scales, but they can also consume the nectar of flowers and other insects. They take care of aphids so that they can freely collect their honeydew just like most ants.

Life Cycle

The colony of this species only has a single queen. To start a new colony, nuptial flights will occur. This can be observed during the months of April or May, after a heavy rainfall.After they mate, the new queen will search for a nest site underground to lay her first batch of eggs. The queen will stop laying eggs for a time, until her first batch of eggs becomes pupae. Once the first batch of workers reaches adulthood, the queen will produce viable eggs that will soon help in creating the colony. She can lay eggs all year round and may create 60,000 to 85,000 individuals once she is able to create an established colony.

Other Information and Tips

Although this ant is known to be an outdoor ant, it can sometimes move indoors, which can create havoc to any homeowners. When this species enter a home, these ants can create a nest inside a decaying wood, wall voids, or a hollow foam insulation. These ants are quick to bite and can inflict pain and discomfort that may be treated with the use of over-the-counter medications.

in the case of a velvety tree ant infestation, it is best to call a pest control specialist than to do it yourself. These ants are not safe to handle, which makes it impractical for most homeowners to do the control on their own.