15/05/2024
Black Ants
Habitat
Found in almost any dry and open area where the ground is warmed by the sun. This includes parks, gardens, roadside verges, pavements, coastal areas and brownfield sites. Not usually found in woods or other damp or shady areas. No preference for soil type is apparent.
Flight period
Alates are the familiar flying ants sometimes seen in large numbers on certain warm summer afternoons. These nuptial flights most often take place from early July to mid August.
Nesting biology
Nests can be large and are often located under stones, paving slabs, pieces of wood, plastic or metal: in fact anything that can be warmed by the suns rays. Where there are no suitable stones etc. then large soft mound nests are sometimes found. Colonies have a single queen and from several hundred up to 10,000 workers.
