{"id":11753,"date":"2020-08-23T06:19:43","date_gmt":"2020-08-22T20:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/?page_id=11753"},"modified":"2025-05-13T11:00:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T01:00:53","slug":"white-footed-house-ant","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/white-footed-house-ant\/","title":{"rendered":"White footed house ant (<i>Technomyrmex<\/i> spp.) in New Zealand"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"11753\" class=\"elementor elementor-11753\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-274b5af0 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"274b5af0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3b6ce343\" data-id=\"3b6ce343\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ddb18e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ddb18e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">White footed house ant (<i>Technomyrmex<\/i> spp.) in New Zealand<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd47ef3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fd47ef3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6ad89e0\" data-id=\"6ad89e0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-caeee84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"caeee84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><nav  aria-label=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BreadcrumbList\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item active\" aria-current=\"page\" itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ListItem\"><span itemprop=\"name\">Home<\/span><meta itemprop=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f845692 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f845692\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ac1da2a\" data-id=\"ac1da2a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap 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decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11399\" alt=\"white footed house ant and larvae\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis-285x190.jpg 285w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-68cf508\" data-id=\"68cf508\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-185c6f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"185c6f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pest Snapshot - White Footed House Ant<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62cfce2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"62cfce2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"text-align: center;\"><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Scientific name: <\/b><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technomyrmex spp.<\/span><\/em><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Identification:<\/strong> Dark brown to black, with white\/pale ends to their legs. (brown legs and antennae). Size: 2.5 \u2013 3.0 mm.\u00a0<\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Health threat: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bite \/ sting pain:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Does not bite or sting<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Difficulty to control: <\/b>Difficult<\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Diet: <\/b>Preference for h<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">oneydew, but sometimes protein<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Nest locations: <\/strong>Primarily outside in trees, but also wall voids and roof cavities\u00a0<\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Colony structure:<\/strong> Mult-nest, multi-queen<\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Main pest season: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summer \/ Autumn<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indoor\/Outdoor pest: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mainly indoors<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-589f3cf8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"589f3cf8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-66fc7069\" data-id=\"66fc7069\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a290424 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a290424\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are a number of species in the <em>Technomyrmex<\/em> genus, which all could described as white footed house ants. They are all very similar in appearance and only experts will be able to tell them apart. In New Zealand, the main species is\u00a0<em style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">Technomyrmex jocosus.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-907920b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"907920b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">White footed  ant information<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44cbf0dc closed-accordion elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"44cbf0dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1151\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1151\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Invasive \/ native: <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1151\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1151\"><p>Invasive (from Australia)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1152\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1152\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Distribution:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1152\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1152\"><p>White footed house ants are found across most of New Zealand, but predominantly on the north island as they prefer temperate to sub-tropical climates. In the North Island they exist both outdoors and indoors, but as you move further south, particularly into the South Island, there are more of an indoor nesting species.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1153\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1153\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Typical nest location:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1153\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1153\"><p>White footed house ants do not nest in the soil \u2013 they nest at or above ground level. In buildings they will commonly nest in wall cavities and roof voids.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1154\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1154\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Colony size \/ structure:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1154\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1154\"><p>White footed house ants can form massive colonies of up to several million ants. In these large colonies around half the colony is made of intercastes \u2013 secondary female reproductive. There is a nuptial flight each year and after mating on the wing, successful new queens will start a new colony. Over time, as the colony grows the intercastes eventually replace the original queen. These intercastes can also create new nests by budding (leaving the nest will a small number of workers and brood).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1155\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1155\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Identification:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1155\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1155\"><p>Colour: Dark brown to black with white or pale ends to the legs<br \/>Size: 2.5 \u2013 3.0 mm<br \/>Nodes on petiole: No obvious node<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1156\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1156\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Food preferences (What attracts white-footed ants?):<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1156\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1156\"><p>Although omnivorous, white footed house ants have a strong preference for sugar and will often be seen trailing on the outside of houses into trees to collect honey dew from sap feeding insects.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1157\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1157\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Distinguishing features \/ behaviours:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1157\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1157\"><ul><li>White footed house ants can create significant and long lasting trails, which can remain in place for several months. The trails will often follow the edges of structures.<\/li><li>Unlike most ants, white footed house ants are not thought to exhibit trophallaxis \u2013 they do not share their food with their nest mates. Instead sterile workers lay tropic eggs \u2013 special \u2018food\u2019 eggs which are fed to larvae and non-foraging nest mates<\/li><li>Sometimes groups of workers are observed remaining motionless on walls and other surfaces. The reason for the behaviour is unknown<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1158\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1158\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Bite \/ sting:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1158\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1158\"><ul><li>White footed house ants do not bite or sting<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1159\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1159\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Prevention tips:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1159\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1159\"><p>White footed house ants commonly access buildings through adjacent vegetation. Clearing vegetation from around the perimeter of the building and trimming back any branches overhanging or touching the roof will help.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-11510\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11510\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Other comments:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11510\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11510\"><p>Can sometimes be confused with the <a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/black-house-ant\/\">black house ant<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/argentine-ant\/\" data-wplink-edit=\"true\">Argentine ant<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4089a1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4089a1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Our main ant information page has other <a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/\">species of ant<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ffa75ff elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ffa75ff\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e1151ca\" data-id=\"e1151ca\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15703ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"15703ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to get rid of white footed ants<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76f1166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76f1166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">White footed house ants are one of most difficult of ants to control and it is generally necessary to use the services of\u00a0 a professional pest manager. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">Not only can the nests contain huge number of ants, often with several nests as part of the same colony, but the presence of intercastes and lack of trophallaxis means that baits can have limited impact on the population.<\/span><\/p><p>Tackling the areas of activity with non-repellent sprays (which are only available to pest professionals) is often a good starting point as it can dramatically impact population numbers. If the nest cannot be located spraying trails both on buildings and in vegetation will be a good start.<\/p><p>Bait can also be utilised, with sugar based baits proving very attractive. However, with limited trophallaxis, plentiful bait is required to ensure all the workers and intercastes can access bait directly. This lack of trophallaxis may be the reason for the variable performance of baits reported by some pest managers.<\/p><p>Slower acting insecticides, especially those based on IGRs may find their way into the trophic eggs, to ensure larvae and non-foraging workers can be targeted.<\/p><p>White-footed ants are amongst the more difficult pest ants to control.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d144ed8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"d144ed8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8f5a0b4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8f5a0b4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a87d5c4\" data-id=\"a87d5c4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bac570 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1bac570\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further reading on white footed ants...<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e1dc8f elementor-grid-1 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"9e1dc8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-22189 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-research pest-ants wpbf-post\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-ants\/research\/the-weird-colony-structure-of-the-white-footed-ant\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-11399\" alt=\"white footed house ant and larvae\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis-285x190.jpg 285w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Ant Research<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-ants\/research\/the-weird-colony-structure-of-the-white-footed-ant\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tThe Weird Colony Structure of the White-Footed Ant\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>An overview of the unusual characteristics of the white-footed ant nest and colony, with tips for gaining control.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-ants\/research\/the-weird-colony-structure-of-the-white-footed-ant\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Weird Colony Structure of the White-Footed Ant\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0b696ea\" data-id=\"0b696ea\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7b3a28c\" data-id=\"7b3a28c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d947b34 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d947b34\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4c3aad3\" data-id=\"4c3aad3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a04d7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"8a04d7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pest Snapshot &#8211; White Footed House Ant Scientific name: Technomyrmex spp. Identification: Dark brown to black, with white\/pale ends to their legs. (brown legs and antennae). Size: 2.5 \u2013 3.0 mm.\u00a0 Health threat: Low Bite \/ sting pain: Does not bite or sting Difficulty to control: Difficult Diet: Preference for honeydew, but sometimes protein Nest locations: Primarily outside in trees, but also wall voids and roof cavities\u00a0 Colony structure: Mult-nest, multi-queen Main pest season: Summer \/ Autumn Indoor\/Outdoor pest: Mainly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":11729,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"White footed house ant (Technomyrmex spp.) in New Zealand","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn about the white footed house ant (Technomyrmex species), a difficult to control black ant found in houses in New Zealand.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11753","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","wpbf-post"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11753"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11753\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39862,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11753\/revisions\/39862"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}