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Black Ants Habitat

Black ants dwell in different areas worldwide and are widespread in urban and industrial surroundings. Black ant colonies can house several thousands of individuals and are located primarily in dark, protected areas.

Black ants prefer to live outdoors in decaying wood, but will also build their nests in wall or cement cracks. Outside, black ants establish their nests under rocks or stones and in rotting logs, gardens and other open areas. Their nests can also be located within small craters of very fine soil. Indoors, black ants build their nests around wooden items or firewood.

Even when nesting outdoors, black ants construct their colonies close to buildings so that they can forage for food. This nuisance is relegated to chilly and wet climates, and infestations inside structures typically calm in summer. Black ant workers forage with scent-marked trails. They feed on aphids and plant secretions, as well as sweets, greasy items, meats, fruits and vegetables.

As their name suggests, black ants are jet-black in color. Worker ants are 1.5 to two millimeters and queen ants measure twice that, or four millimeters in length. The antennae of black ants have 12 segments, which end in three-segmented clubs. Although black ants do have stingers, they are usually small and weak.

Colonies of black ants are moderate to large, containing two or more queens. They form mating swarms from June to August in the United States, and colonies can grow quickly in comparison to other ant species. Because black ants prefer to nest in wood, an infestation can damage your home if left untreated. Contact a pest control professional to address a black ant infestation.