What does it look like?
Darwin’s ant workers are very small, measuring about 2 mm long. They have a dark‑brown head, with the rest of the body and legs a lighter brown.
They can look similar to Argentine ants, but Darwin’s ants give off a strong formic acid smell when crushed, which Argentine ants do not.
Darwin’s ants are native to Australia, where they typically live in dry forested areas - coastal scrub or heath. They nest in soil, under rocks or rotten logs, and sometimes in abandoned nests of other ants. Colonies usually contain several hundred workers and will disperse quickly when disturbed
Why is it a problem?
Darwin's ants can build up large densities, often in urban gardens, becoming a nuisance, and displacing other invertebrates. They nest in soil or under stones and logs.
Control methods
Pesticide control
A variety of products are available on the market along with companies that specialise in ant control. We suggest getting advice from a store or company that sells such products.
Prevention
Ensure soil potted plants, outdoor equipment or other places which could contain ants are ant-free before moving these to other areas.
Related links
Management Programme
Organism of Interest (OOI)
Organisms Of Interest (OOI) are those specified as pests under our Regional Pest Management Plan that are capable of causing significant adverse effects on one or several of our Regional values. These species warrant being watch-listed for ongoing surveillance or future control opportunities.
More informationUnwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
More informationTaxonomies
FamilyFormicidae
TypeInsects
GroupAnts
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeOrganism of Interest (OOI)Unwanted Organism
