Ants

 

Ants constitute a single family in the Order Hymenoptera and are characterised by the main divisions of the body being distinctly separated; the abdomen consists of a very narrow ‘waist’ composed of one or two segments.  The antennae are strongly elbowed.  The most remarkable feature of the ants, however, is the several organisations in which they live and the various forms assumed by the adult insects according to the tasks which they perform in the community and for which they have been specially reared.  They have a caste system by which nest building, nursing of the young and foraging for food is undertaken by workers (sterile females), reproduction is performed by fertile females (queens) and males are responsible for the fertilisation of the queen.

 

The main species of ants found in this country include the Pugnacious Ant, the Argentine Ant, the Brown House Ant, the Driver Ant and the Sugar Ant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pugnacious Ant

 

This is one of the commonest ants in the country and it becomes very abundant in orchards and gardens.  They nest underground normally, but sometimes they make cavities in the walls of termite mounds.

 

Argentine Ant

 

This is a much more serious pest than the previous species and came from South America from where it has spread to all the warm parts of the world.  The Argentine Ant is attracted by any sweet food such as jam, treacle or honey and it forms ‘traffic streams’ or long trails with ants going in both directions from the nest to the food and back again.  They are therefore a serious nuisance to householders.  In gardens, the Argentine Ant drives out many of the other ants which may be present, and it encourages aphids and scale insects for the production of honeydew.

 

Brown House Ant

 

In the inland areas of this country we have the Brown House Ant which takes the place of the Argentine Ant in houses and it looks very similar to it.  The Brown House Ant does not run in such clearly defined streams as the Argentine Ant but it tends to spread out more, and there are also workers with larger harder heads which crunch underfoot like grains of sugar.  The nests are usually made under stones and paving slabs in the garden, and this ant is of value in recovering and consuming dead insects and it seems to prefer meat and fatty substances, although it will feed on sweet foods too.

 

Driver Ant

 

The Driver Ant has a bite like the prick of a hot needle and it is sometimes locally called the Fire Ant.  Driver Ants do not make permanent nests or stay in one place, but they are always on the move as a dense mass or swarm.  They are essentially predacious and they attack and feed on other insects, spiders and on small animals and birds.

 

Sugar Ant

 

The Sugar Ant is very common and widespread, not only in Africa but also in other parts of the world.  It is often a nuisance in houses, where is attracted by sweets, honey and marmalade in the kitchen.

 

These ants occur in the soil, often under a stone and the entrance to the nest is normally surrounded by the excavated earth.  Activity usually reaches a peak in the evening and at night.