These ants can be difficult to separate from Pharaoh ants but only have 2 segments on the antenna club. These ants feed on greasy foods including pet food and on sweets. Nests are often under driveways or sidewalks or in other concealed sites. Workers can be found in the kitchen. When swarms appear inside, the nest may be under a slab or similar location.
Indoor colonies swarm at any time.
If the nest cannot be found, baiting with a protein-based bait is most often successful. Barrier treatments will give seasonal control from outdoor colonies. There can be hundreds of colonies in a lawn, and most indoor problems are associated with concrete slabs or brickwork built on light soils. Workers will occasionally come in for food and are found feeding on sweets and honeydew from insects infesting house plants. Swarming is on sunny late afternoons during August and early September when thousands of winged ants can be seen bubbling from the nest or in the air.