An active insect, it nests outside in grass, walls and under paving. It forages widely for food, which is how it comes to enter domestic premises. They prefer sweet foods and may cause damage to food for human consumption.

Description: Elbowed antennae and biting mouth parts. If present, two pairs of membranous wings, fore and hind wings hooked together. Abdomen is constricted at the base giving an appearance of a waist which bears characteristic nodes or scales. Workers are 3 to 5mm long, queens 15mm long. Workers are coloured dark brown-black, while queens are mid-brown.

How to control ants: Although hard to destroy the nests must be eradicated if infestations are to be controlled. Insecticide treatments and baits can be applied around and in the nest.