Bigheaded Ants
The workers of the Big Headed Ant is dimorphic, meaning there are 2 different sizes of workers and they can range from 1.5 to 4.5 mm. The major workers have an unusually large heart-shaped head. The body color ranges from dark brown to shades of red to light yellow. The workers are easy to identify, because of this large distinctive head, if they can be located, but you can use peanut butter to lure them.
The colonies can reach enormous sizes with extended nests and multiple queens. They typically nest in the ground and next to foundations , in some cases creating mud tubes that have been mistaken for subterranean termites. Potted plants can be way that Big Headed ants make their way inside the home. Ants prefer easy to move loose soil such as flower beds and potted plants. But most infestations start outside and under a slab.
They will feed on a wide variety of food types, but their natural food diet consists of both live and dead insects, seeds and honeydew.
Controlling the Big Headed ant can be difficult but identifying the species correctly and locating the nests, entry points and trails will assist in your successful elimination of the ant colonies. You can locate a nest by using drops of honey, deiced up insects like crickets and mealworms on index cards and placing them wherever you are seeing the ants. For the Big Headed ant using peanut butter will do a good job of attracting them then you can follow the worker back to the nest location.
Long term success will depend on sanitation, moisture damage and elimination of water source, cracks in the foundation, depth of mulch, removal of stacks or piles that are located to close to the structure. And also treating plants that are infested with honey dew producing insects.
Ant control requires a broad-based treatment strategy that often includes residual insecticides, using a non repelling insecticide will make your treatment much more effective and prevent any satellite colonies from forming. Ants nesting within a wall void can be treated with a dusts or aerosol. Ants nesting within the soil can be drenched with a water-based residual treatment. The Big Headed ant will be attracted to food sources that are protein, sweet , seeds and insects. The Gourmet Ant Bait will work effectively on the Big Headed Ant. Placement of the bait should be in the areas you are already seeing the ants, whether inside the window ledge or on your cabinets.
Proper knowledge of the Big Headed ant and it’s characteristics will help you be more successful in your control methods. Remember ants can be difficult to control and may take multiple treatments to completely eliminate an ant colony.
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