White-Footed Ant

Technomyrmex albipes (Smith)

Appearance

• Dark brownish / black color.
• Yellow-white feet.
• Approx 3mm in length.

Lifecycle

• A colony can contain up to a million ants, thus these are v invasive ants which can be hard to eradicate.
• Nearly half a colony is made up of fertile females so reproductive capabilities are huge. These are winged and larger than wingless females.
• Winged males mate once before they die, wingless males are capable of multiple mating.
• Adult workers are wingless females and are the ones seen looking for food.

Habits

• They do not bite or sting.
• Although colonies are vast in numbers, they tend to spread out into satellite colonies which nest in different locations.
• Ideal nesting locations outside include trees - in trunks or galleries that might have once been created by termites, under loose bark or plant debris, nearer the home in attics, under roof shingles, in wall voids, along fences and in outdoor furniture. Indoors they can be found in the kitchen area near bins or where food is stored or prepared.
• These ants are attracted to sweet substances - plant nectars, flowers and sweet human food substances. Also attracted to aphids and mealy bugs which secrete honeydew.
• Most likely to be seen foraging for food in large numbers, most likely at night if temperatures are high.