**Island Sugar Ants** (*Ochetellus glaber*) are small, black, highly adaptable ants that are significant pests in the Pacific region, including Australia and various islands. They are best known as **nuisance household invaders** that are strongly attracted to sugary foods and liquids, though they also consume proteins and grease. They are non-stinging, but they nest in diverse locations and can quickly establish persistent trails into kitchens, pantries, and food preparation areas.
Taxonomy and Classification
Island Sugar Ants belong to the order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. They undergo complete metamorphosis. The common name, Sugar Ant, is used broadly for many sweet-loving species, but *Ochetellus glaber* is distinctive for its glossy black color. They are highly mobile and tend to form long, well-defined foraging trails, often moving rapidly when disturbed.
Physical Description
Island Sugar Ants are small, uniform ants, 2 to 3 mm long.
- **Appearance:** Glossy, jet-black, with a smooth, shiny body. They are monomorphic (workers are all the same size).
- **Nests:** Highly opportunistic nesters. They build colonies outdoors in shallow soil, under rocks, in leaf litter, or in tree cavities. Indoors, they nest in wall voids, insulation, around hot water pipes, and in structural crevices.
- **Scent:** When crushed, they often emit a distinctive, slightly acidic odor.
- **Behavior:** They are famous for establishing massive, persistent trails from an outdoor nest or entry point directly to a food source. They become especially noticeable after rain or periods of high humidity.
Distribution and Habitat
Island Sugar Ants are widespread in Australia, New Zealand, and several Pacific Islands, having spread through global trade. Their habitat is diverse, ranging from native bushland to highly developed urban and suburban areas. Their adaptability allows them to thrive both outdoors and indoors, often moving colonies rapidly in response to weather changes.
Behavior and Conflict
The primary conflict is the contamination of food and the continuous nuisance of large numbers of ants foraging indoors.
- **Food Preference:** They are strongly attracted to sweet substances (sugar, syrups, soft drinks, fruit), but will also take meat scraps, dead insects, and pet food.
- **Trail Following:** They deposit strong trail pheromones, allowing huge numbers of workers to quickly exploit a food source and making it difficult to disrupt their entry points.
- **Structural Nuisance:** While they do not cause structural damage, their large presence and foraging habits in kitchens and pantries are highly unsanitary and frustrating for homeowners.
Management and Prevention
Control focuses on rigorous sanitation and the strategic use of insecticidal baits.
- **Sanitation (Key):** Eliminate all accessible food sources. Wipe up spills immediately, store all food (including pet food) in airtight containers, and rinse out recycling containers.
- **Exclusion:** Seal all entry points into the home, focusing on small cracks around window and door frames, utility lines, and plumbing entrances.
- **Baiting:** Use sugar-based, slow-acting liquid or gel ant baits. Place the baits directly along the foraging trails where the ants are active, allowing the workers to carry the poison back to the queen and the nest.
- **Nest Treatment:** If the nest is located outdoors (e.g., under a patio slab), a granular or liquid insecticide labeled for ant control can be applied directly to the nest site.
Conservation and Research
Island Sugar Ants are managed as urban and domestic nuisance pests. Research focuses on improving bait palatability and efficacy, especially given their opportunistic feeding habits, and tracking their spread as an invasive species in sensitive island ecosystems.