Pavement Ant – Tetramorium casepitum
Pavement Ant – Tetramorium casepitum
Common Name: Pavement Ant
Latin Name: Tetramorium caespitum
Appearance:
Pavement ants are tiny, dark brown to black and about 2.5 to 4 mm long. Their head and thorax have lines that make them stand out. They have two nodes between their thorax and belly. They have arms with 12 segments that end in a club shape with three parts.
Host Plants: Pavement ants are not known to be particularly fond of plants. They are typically seen in cities, nesting under pavements, roads and building edges.
Territory: They are native to Europe but have spread to North America. They may be found throughout the United States, particularly in metropolitan areas.
Damages caused by Pavement Ants:
Pavement ants can be a bother when they enter buildings or homes. They will look for sweets, meats, and greasy foods in kitchens and cupboards because they like those tastes. Even though they don’t usually damage buildings, the way they nest can damage ground and stonework.
Life history and habits:
- Egg:This is the first step of someone becoming an ant. When queen ants mate, they lay eggs. These are tiny eggs that look like ovals and are usually white. The queen takes care of the eggs by keeping them safe and clean. It takes different species and temperatures different amounts of time for eggs to hatch.
- Larvae:Ant larvae are born when the eggs hatch. Ant embryos look like grubs and don’t have legs. Adult ants are the only ones who can feed and care for them. In the colony, worker ants feed the larvae food that they have regurgitated. This food is high in proteins and other nutrients. At this time, the larvae overgrow.
- Pupa:The caterpillar grows for a while and then spins a net out of silk around itself. This is the pupal stage. The pup goes through a transformation inside the cocoon and turns into an adult ant. This stage is similar to the caterpillar state that butterflies go through.
- Adult:The entirely changed ant emerges from the nest as an adult once the transformation is finished. It has three body parts (head, thorax, and belly) and six legs, typical of its species. Adult ants play many jobs in the colony, such as workers, fighters, or members that lay eggs.