Cornfield Ants

The worker cornfield ant a medium sized ant, dark brown to black in colour. A worker ant is about 2 mm to 3 mm long and a queen and is about 6 mm long. These ants can be confused with carpenter ants, but the cornfield and is considerable smaller and has a notch in the middle section of its body when viewed from the side, whereas the carpenter ant is completely round.

Behaviour

Cornfield ants are prevalent in the south coastal regions of B.C. This ant prefers moist wood and will create colonies in soil and rotten logs and stumps. A single colony will have one queen which lays the eggs, and the eggs will develop into an adult in 2 to 3 months. A queen can live for more than 10 years. The cornfield ant will swarm in the hot summer months. Inside structures the ant will seek out damp and decayed wood and create tunnels, or galleries, in the wood. The ant may bring in additional moisture into the structure to increase damage.

Prevention

Reducing moisture and rotten wood in and around the home is necessary to prevent cornfield ants from nesting the structure. Remove or repair damage to the structure, including: rotting wood, rotting decks, inadequately ventilation in crawlspaces, cracks in the foundation, soil contact with wood parts of the structure.

Control

Cornfield ant control requires a comprehensive and integrated approach. Consult a pest control professional to arrange for an estimate.