Coastal Brown Ants

Coastal Brown Ants are light brown to dark reddish brown in colour and are commonly could Big-headed ants. They have two different size workers: major workers heads are very large in proportion to their bodies. The minor workers do not have large heads.

The Coastal Brown worker ants are dimorphic, meaning there are two sizes. The smaller worker ants are 2 to 3mm long and do not have large heads and the bodies are proportionate in size. A few workers are larger around 3 to 4mm longs and have big heads that look out of proportion with the rest of their body. There tends to be only one large worker ant in around every one hundred and so they are sighted a great deal less than the smaller worker ants.

Coastal Brown Ants tend to nest in soil in protected areas like under rocks, logs, firewood, patio blocks, landscape debris and more. The ants will also nest in open areas. They trail readily, but usually not far from their nest.

Coastal Brown Ants form colonies that can number in the tens of thCoastalousands. Like Argentine ants, they often form mega colonies with multiple queens with many sub-colonies. These “super colonies” can be spread out and difficult to control. Their diet consists of live and dead insects, and they are partial to the honeydew from aphids and similar insects. They tend to feed indoors on meats and grease, sweets, and high-protein foods, and can also get into pet foods.