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Common ant species in Israel
Some ant species live in colonies that are supported by a single queen while others are supported by multiple queens. Although there are over 200 known ant species in Israel, there are relatively few that we commonly see as pests. These include:
Israeli builder ant
(Messor arenarius)
Appearance
- Israeli builder ants typically have a reddish-brown to dark-brown colouration.
- They are medium-sized ants, with workers ranging from 4 to 7 millimetres in length.
- They have a robust build with a distinct separation between the thorax and abdomen.
- The head is usually slightly darker than the rest of the body, and they have well-developed mandibles.
Lifecycle
- Like other ant species, Israeli builder ants undergo complete metamorphosis, consisting of egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages.
- The queen ant lays eggs, which hatch into larvae.
- The larvae are cared for by worker ants and undergo several moults before pupating.
- After pupation, they emerge as adult worker ants, responsible for various tasks within the colony, such as foraging, nest maintenance, and caring for the brood.
- The queen's primary role is to lay eggs to maintain and expand the colony.
Habits
- Israeli builder ants are known for their characteristic habit of constructing elaborate underground nests.
- These nests often consist of several chambers interconnected by tunnels, which provide protection from predators, regulate temperature and humidity, and serve as storage for food and brood.
- They are omnivorous scavengers, feeding on a variety of organic matter, including seeds, dead insects, and plant matter.
- They are also known to forage long distances from their nest in search of food, following pheromone trails laid down by scout ants.
Dwarf moor ant
(Temnothorax crassispinus)
Appearance
- The dwarf moor ant is relatively small in size, with workers typically measuring between 2 to 4 millimetres in length.
- They have a dark brown to black colouration, with a glossy appearance.
- Their bodies are slender and elongated, with a distinct separation between the thorax and abdomen.
- They have relatively large eyes compared to other ants of similar size.
Lifecycle
- The lifecycle of the dwarf moor ant follows a pattern familiar to many ant species, characterised by complete metamorphosis.
- It begins with the queen laying eggs, which hatch into larvae.
- These larvae are diligently cared for by worker ants as they undergo multiple moults, gradually developing into pupae.
- After a period of pupation, they emerge as adult worker ants, assuming various roles crucial for the colony's functioning, including foraging, maintaining the nest, and nurturing the brood.
- The queen's primary role is to continuously lay eggs, ensuring the colony's growth and sustainability.
Habits
- Dwarf moor ants typically nest in small colonies, often under stones, in rotting wood, or in the soil.
- Their nests are relatively simple compared to those of larger ant species, consisting of a few interconnected chambers and tunnels.
- They are primarily scavengers, feeding on a variety of organic matter, including dead insects, nectar, and honeydew produced by aphids.
- They are also known to tend aphids, protecting them from predators in exchange for the sugary secretions they produce.
Learn more about Rentokil’s approach to dealing with ants.