Just like humans, ants are social and like humans live in communities, these insects live in more or less permanent nests. The sizes of ant colonies vary considerably. These colonies are located in soil, wood, under leaves or amongst rocks or bricks. They vary from brown to black in colour, depending on the species. Ants have an obvious constriction between their thorax and abdomen regions. Antennae vary in shape but most are elbow-shaped. Ants have two pairs of wings, unequal front- and hind wings and one pair of compound eyes.
These are common house ants and are found in and around all built-up areas. They are found nesting in paths, wall cavities, roof voids, fences, woodwork, masonry, soil and rotted wood. These ants are shiny black in colour with a pale tarsi. Their bodies are long and slender and they are usually 2.5-3.0mm in length. These ants have chewing mouthparts.
The coastal brown ant is commonly found nesting in building structures. They like places like the crevices in brickwork, cavity walls, inside termite tracks, paths, rockeries and behind skirting walls and architraves. They are about 1.5-2.5mm in length. Their bodies are long and slender. They are a light yellowish brown to brown colour and have two raised nodes on pedicel. The hind node is more rounded. Coastal brown ants also have one pair of small spines on the hind part of their thorax.
