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We see them every day; they’re there within minutes when you leave food on the counter or spill something sweet. They’re one of the most common household pests, and we at Mostert Pest Control understand better than most just how annoying they can be. Yes, we’re talking about ants.

But there’s more to these fascinating creatures than meets the eye: an almost-secret world that we never see is constantly changing and growing through their hard work—their nests. Let’s take a look at the hidden lives of ants in this brief introduction to ant nests.

Types of Ant Nests

Ants tend to nest in either soil, wood, or wherever they are (opportunistically). Depending on where they nest, and the type of ant, some of these nests can be among the most elaborate homes in the animal kingdom.

Soil Nesters

Ants need three things to survive in an environment: food, moisture, and protection. So, ants that nest in soil are sustained by the nutrients they find there. You’ll often see the telltale sign of an ant nest by a lump on the ground, known as an anthill. These can look different depending on the ant species. With some, you can see a hole that leads down into the ground. With others, the hole is completely closed up. This is to offer protection to the colony, as well as generate heat to help them grow faster.

Pests they may be, but soil nesters also play a major role in the ecosystem, de-compacting soil which allows other creatures to thrive.

Ants living in soil construct nests with varying complexity. Some species build simple vertical holes with a few tunnels leading off from the main one. Others build a home that would be fit for a king if it were human-sized. The network of tunnels can run metres into and across the ground, and are incredibly complex, turning the nest into what’s known as a ‘super colony’.

Wood Nesters

The most common type of wood nesting ants is the carpenter ant. They’re often found in rotting and decomposing wood that’s full of moisture. Carpenter ant nests are extremely neat, created in parallel rows with smooth walls and zero soil.

Most of the time, you’ll find these ant nests outside, but occasionally, if conditions are right, they’ll nest inside the home. In this case, it’s important to call out a pest control service, as the ants can cause substantial structural damage.

Opportunistic Nesters

These are the most difficult ants to control. They’ll make the most of whatever environment they’re in, from air conditioners, to rocks, to home insulation, and more.

However, opportunistic nesters are known to perform a process called ‘budding’. This happens when the queen and worker ants move their nest to a new, permanent location. There are a couple reasons why they might do this, such as having a lack of food in their current location or retreating from a threat to the colony, such as pesticide use.

Ants Without a Nest

Interestingly, army ants don’t build nests like other ant species do. Rather, they create a temporary place for the queen to lay her eggs—between 30,000 and 300,000—and when these hatch into larvae, the colony ups and leaves the nest and goes in search of a new location.

Unlike other species, army ants can be quite destructive to the environment they inhabit. If you’ve got an army ant colony in your home or office, it’s essential to call in pest removers.

The Worker Ants

Every member of an ant colony plays a functional role. For example, worker ants are the lifeblood of all ant colonies, responsible for building the complex nests that ants occupy. Some colonies can have up to 100,000 workers, such as with the formica podzolica species.

Interestingly, worker ants are female, and come second in the social structure of an ant colony; the queen is first, then the workers, and lastly the males, whose only job is to fertilise the queen’s eggs.

Why Ants Build Nests

We know all creatures need shelter, but what causes ants to build their nests? It’s all about the queen. When ready, a queen will leave the nest she’s born into and found an ant colony of her own. The worker ants will build a nest for the queen to lay her eggs in. From there, the nest is used to house the eggs, along with food and provide shelter.

Temperatures in Nest-Building

Warm and cold climates make a difference to the size of the nests that ants build. A study published in Nature.com showed that ants in warmer environments build nests that are 1.5 times deeper than those in colder climates.

Getting Rid of Ant Nests

Now that you know more about ant nests, you may have a little more respect for these tiny bugs. That doesn’t mean they’re not still a menace to your kitchen countertops, though. If you have an ant problem in your home, it’s time to call in Mostert Pest Control.

We offer pest removal services for a broad range of insects. Visit our contact page to find the branch closest to you. We operate in all provinces in South Africa, as well as in Mozambique.