First published: 31 December 2020 @ 6:00 pm
Most people dislike all types of ants, but most of us are used to them. In fact, there are millions of species of ants that exist in the world today.
The major problem with ants is that they swarm and invade our homes and other areas. For this reason, many people find it difficult to get rid of ants.
To deal with this problem, you need to know how to identify the various ants that may be in your home or other area.
If you want to get rid of ants, you should know how to identify their different types first. This will help you learn what kinds of ants are present in your home or area and will help you decide on the best ways to deal with them.
What are the common types of ants found at home in Singapore and how to identify them?
Carpenter Ants.
These ants are black with brown head. They are about 5-7mm long and come in small group when foraging at night. These ants carry their wings tucked under their body. We commonly find them in wood piles, in wood structures and sometimes in living room furniture. They are easy to spot their trails in cracks and crevices on the wood surfaces.
Carpenter ants are common in Singapore. They are more likely to be active during the night. Their entrance are usually in the form of holes on the wood surfaces. They prefer humid places such as kitchen, bathrooms and toilets. We can also find them in furniture, house plants, underneath stones, etc.
Carpenter ants nest in rotting wood or dead trees. They will take over some of the structures including houses.
People know carpenter ants to eat sugar (honeydew), protein (insects, snails), carbohydrates (flowers, fruits, tree sap), and fats (insects, snails). The workers are black, shiny and have a stinger. The queen is wingless. Carpenter ants do not bite.
Carrion Ant.
These ants are dark brown with black head. They are about 6-7mm long. We can find them in groups of 5-10 ants. They are common in the kitchen, bathrooms, toilets and near the doors. It is usually around the house and are unlikely to nest. It is the most common ant in Singapore.
Carrion Ants live in all places in Singapore. They are common in houses, apartments, hotels and restaurants. They are active in the day time and you can see them foraging around.
Carrion ants forage around for food, such as sugar, starch and protein. They will forage around for refuse, dead animals and decaying plant matter. They will also forage for other ant species’ colonies and even other insect colonies. You can find them in crops, such as rice and fruits.
The workers are dark brown, shiny and have a stinger. The queen is wingless. Carrion ants do not bite.
Meat Ants
Meat Ants. These ants are dark brown with black head. They are about 6-7mm long. We commonly find them in the kitchen, bathrooms, toilets and near the doors. We also usually find it around the house and are unlikely to nest.
Meat Ants live in all places in Singapore. They are common in houses, apartments, hotels and restaurants. They are active in the daytime, usually foraging around. Meat ants are in almost every part of an establishment, including food preparation areas.
They will eat any kind of meat, including cheese, butter, fish and poultry. Meat ants also eat insects, such as beetles, caterpillars and crickets. They also harvest seeds and grains. Meat ants are usually common in cooler areas, such as in the kitchen and near the refrigerator.
Meat ants’s nicknames are the Little black ant or Black house ant. Meat ants are small ants that nest outdoors in lawns and gardens in soil, under stones or in the hollow of trees. Meat ants are common in buildings and their nests are in window sills, door frames, kitchen and bathroom cupboards, and under the sink.
The workers are black, shiny and have a stinger. The queen is wingless. Meat ants do not bite but they spray acid.
Odorous House
Ant Odorous House Ant. These ants are black with brown head. They are about 6-7mm long. Ants are usually in groups of 5 to 10 ants. Ants are common in kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets, and near the doors. We usually find it around the houses, but it is unlikely that they will build a nest inside your home.
Odorous house ants are common in Singapore. They are more likely to be active during the night. Their entrance are usually in the form of holes on the wood surfaces. They prefer humid places such as kitchen, bathrooms and toilets. They can also hide in furniture, house plants, underneath stones, etc.
Odorous house ants nest in rotting wood or dead trees. They will take over some of the structures including houses.
Odorous house ants are known to eat sugar (honeydew), protein (insects, snails), carbohydrates (flowers, fruits, tree sap), and fats (insects, snails). The workers are black, shiny and have a stinger. The queen is wingless. Odorous house ants do not bite.
Parasitic Ant
Parasitic Ants. These ants are brown colored with black head. They can be found in groups of 2-3 ants. They are commonly found in the kitchen, bathrooms, toilets and near the doors. It is usually found around the house and are unlikely to nest.
Parasitic ants are commonly found in Singapore. They are more likely to be active during the night. Their entrance are usually in the form of holes on the wood surfaces. They prefer humid places such as kitchen, bathrooms and toilets. They can also be found in furniture, house plants, underneath stones, etc.
Parasitic ants nest in rotting wood or dead trees. They will take over some of the structures including houses. Parasitic ants eat the eggs, larvae or pupae of other ant species. They will eat any kind of food. The workers are brown, shiny and have a stinger. The queen is wingless. Parasitic ants do not bite.
Ready to Get Rid of Ants?
You can find the best ways to get rid of ants at home and in your area by knowing what types of ants are present.
By knowing what types of ants are present, you will make a better decision on how to deal with them.
For this reason, it is important that you learn how to identify the different ants so that you can identify which ones are causing you problems.
Our blog, HandyWork, covers various topics including how to get rid of ants, identify ants, how to get rid of fire ants, how to get rid of termites, and how to get rid of bedbugs. For more information, check out our blog now!