|
VELVETY TREE ANTS
COMMON NAME: Velvety tree ant
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Liometopum spp.
CLASS I ORDER I FAMILY: Insecta / Hymenoptera / Formicidae
METAMORPHOSIS: Complete
 
(Click on image to enlarge)
INTRODUCTION. Although several species are involved, the California velvety tree ant (Liornetopum occidentale Emery) is the principle pest species. It ranges west to Colorado and south to central Mexico. This or other species of Liometopum occur in Oregon, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The common name comes from their velvety-black abdomen.
RECOGNITION. Workers monomorphic, about 1/16-1/4(2.5-6 mm) long. Color glistening, abdomen velvety black, thorax yellowish red, and head brownish black above, red underneath; one species (L. apiculatum luctuosum Wheeler), which nests in conifers (evergreen trees), blackish in appearance. Antenna 12-segmented, without a club. Thorax lacks spines, profile evenly rounded. Pedicel 1-segmented. Caster with anal opening slitlike, lacking circlet of hairs. Stinger absent, can inflict a painful bite and squirt a disagreeable anal gland secretion into wound or onto intruders.
BIOLOGY. These ants occur in large colonies containing a single queen, which are located in trees in stumps, and underneath stones, especially in areas along streams. They are commonly associated with cottonwood and oak trees. They tend honeydew-producing insects and feed on honeydew, nectar, and insects. These ants give off a rotten coconut-like (butyric acid) odor when crushed, an odor similar to that of odorous house ants.
HABITS. Inside, these ants usually enter in columns searching for sweets and other insects. Their trails may extend several hundred feet from the nest. Outside, they are a major pest of picnickers.
They are active in trails in the morning and evening, and may swarm and bite when disturbed. Although active during daylight, their primary foraging for food occurs in the evening and during the night.
Their nests are usually built under stones or in hollow portions of trees, and are sometimes subdivided with paper-like material. Swarming usually occurs during May, but swarmers have also been collected in August.
If you can not find the pest control product or products you are looking for call us toll free at 1-866-545-9064 and we will find it for you in one of our alternate shipping warehouses. Our home office is located in Houston, Texas with warehouses located throughout the United States that enable us to service all 50 states including New York NY, Los Angeles CA, Miami, FL. Chicago, IL., Denver CO., El Paso, Texas, Dallas TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Boise ID, Atlanta GA, Albuquerque NM, Raleigh-Durham NC, Washington DC, Albuquerque NM, Huntsville AL, Fayetteville AR, Norfolk VA , Madison WI., Corpus Christi, TX, Plano, Texas, Garland, TX, Laredo, Texas, Lubbock, TX.
|
