Summary: Ghost Ant Control Basics<br> <a href="http://www.pestgeekpodcast.com/podcast/biology-ghost-ant-control/attachment/pgp-112-biology-and-control-of-ghost-ant-tapinoma-melanocephalum/" rel="attachment wp-att-5963"></a><br> Ghost ant control has been proven to be very difficult in highly suburbanized areas almost as difficult as its close relative the odorous house ant.<br> Ghost Ant Taxonomy<br> Family: Formicidae<br><br> Subfamily: Dolichoderinae<br><br> Tribe: Dolichoderini<br><br> Genus: Tapinoma<br><br> Species: melanocephalum<br> <br> Ghost Ant Biology<br> Ghost ants have polygyne and unicolonial colonies.<br><br> New colonies are generally formed by budding.<br><br> Budding occurs when one or more females, accompanied by several workers and possibly some brood (larvae and pupae) leave an established colony for a new nesting site.<br><br> The development of workers from egg to adult lasted 16-52<br><br> Ghost ants have 4 Nymphal Stages<br><br> The highest egg production was 5.3 eggs a day.<br><br> The colonies are broken into sub-colonies that occupy multiple nest sites and exchange individuals back and forth along odor trails.<br><br> Ghost ants are opportunistic nesters in places that sometimes remain habitable for only a few days or weeks meaning they move the nests.<br> Ghost Ant Feeding Habits<br> The ants have an omnivorous diet typical of many tramp and pest ant species.<br><br> Worker ants have observed destroying eggs and first-stage larvae of the common housefly Musca domestica.<br><br> Diamondback moth larvae.<br><br> Two-spotted spider mites.<br><br> Aphids in glasshouses.<br><br> Western flower thrips.<br><br> They are frequently observed tending honeydew producing homopteran pests.<br><br> Dispersing a grass root mealybug on the roots of sugarcane.<br> Ghost Ant Colonies<br> Colonies occupy several local sites that are too small or unstable to support the entire colony.<br><br> Nests will exchange workers along pheromone trails.<br><br> Ghost ants colonies individual nests contain between 100–1000 individuals.<br><br> They primarily nest outdoors in small protected areas such as in a dead tree, in palm fronds, under potted plants, in limbs, under stones, and in organic debris.<br> Ghost Ant Eggs & Egg Laying<br> Queens lay large number of eggs which will hatch between 2 to 4 weeks into larvae.<br><br> Queens have a lifespan of only a few weeks in tropical environments.<br> Ghost Ant Control<br> Based on this pest biology it is not possible to control permanently with one service, 1 to 2 follow up services may be required within 30 days to achieve control indoors and a minimum of a bimonthly exterior preventive service to maintain control.<br><br> In certain areas this can be monthly or bimonthly.<br> Using sprays can repel them causing more budding and movement.<br> Ghost Ant Control Products<br> Exterior Perimeter Fipronil Termidor, Taurus or Fuse<br><br> Indoor Crack & Crevice with Alpine WSG<br><br> Baits with Optiguard, Maxforce Quantum, Intice Thiquid in Maxforce Buffet Stations and Cracks and Crevices.<br> Ghost Ant Studies<br> Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae)<br><br> <a href="http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/ghost_ant.htm">http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/ghost_ant.htm</a><br> Effects of Boric Acid, Fipronil, Hydramethylnon, and Diflubenzuron Baits on Colonies of Ghost Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)<br><br> <a href="http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1603/0022-0493-96.3.856">http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1603/0022-0493-96.3.856</a><br> Elimination of a Tapinoma melanocephalum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) infestation using imidacloprid bait.<br><br> <a href="https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20133307503">https://www.cabdirect.</a>
