black headed sugar black headed sugar known brown sugar species endemic australia found states species member genus cosmopolitan genus ants commonly known carpenter ants formally described named british ants characterised black head reddish brown black change colour species workers soldiers measure millimetres males millimetres queens largest members colony measuring millimetres colonies dry regions including open areas dry woodland nest soil large stones flight occurs summer nests hold thousand individuals considered household pest black headed sugar ants feed sweet foods insects tend butterfly larvae numerous birds fish prey ants taxonomy black headed sugar described worker british publication catalogue insects collection originally placed genus years later species assigned genus german specific combination derives latin word meaning black derived greek word meaning head references distinctive black head italian described subspecies based collections smaller ants classified black headed sugar subspecies banded sugar later revived species member species group includes description ants species relatively large species workers known minor workers major workers soldiers workers soldiers range sizes millimetres males measure millimetres queens largest measuring millimetres workers soldiers subspecies grow millimetres workers vary colour black brown yellowish brown reddish brown yellow workers brown light patches noticeable head darker legs black brown large number hairs grow average individual hairs millimetres long golden erect present head short comparison workers eyes soldiers eyes flat species group black headed sugar easily mistaken banded sugar similar appearance darker band wrapping feature absent black headed sugar minor worker specimens usually examined trying identify similar looking species distribution habitat black headed sugar found australian states species restricted north south east queensland widespread australian capital territory widespread new_south_wales victoria found north west new_south_wales south east victoria south_australia commonly seen south eastern regions encountered north west populations present western_australia found north regions state black headed sugar ants live dry regions including dry woodland open areas particularly preferred habitats include woodland woodland elevations ranging metres nests found soil areas surrounded tall trees nests found large stones cedar wood large occupied meat inhabited black headed sugar ants behaviour ecology black headed sugar ants nocturnal food species considered household pest ants enter human homes night search food day ants active exhibited sleep like night black headed sugar predominantly feeds sweet sugar water insects variety human homes consumed workers use social techniques colony movements nest sites lead food sources includes worker carrying worker tandem running laying trail orientation butterflies larvae reside underground areas constructed attending ants night emerge feed leaves species tolerant beetles found nests cricket inside colonies insects inside nests include family birds predatory organisms prey black headed sugar birds black faced noisy winter southern robin prey species indicated fact workers body parts found birds stomach contents predators black headed sugar include rainbow trout flight likely begins summer young queen brood found built chamber january early years colony foundation soldiers older colonies workforce consisting minor workers typical colony contain seven thousand individuals queens species live exceptionally long time wild queens live years known captive living years age making second oldest recorded queen larvae species grow large collected larvae reach lengths millimetres
Black-headed sugar ant