Ochetellus glaber

Ochetellus glaber is a small, dark ant native to Australia, commonly called the black house ant. It is an omnivorous scavenger that often nests in buildings and feeds on sweet foods.

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Formicidae: Formicidae is the insect family comprising ants, distinguished by elbowed antennae and a narrow waist. Ochetellus glaber belongs to this family of social insects.
House ant: A house ant is an ant species that commonly nests in or forages around human buildings. The common name black house ant reflects this species’ close association with buildings.
Ant foraging: Ant foraging is the search for and collection of food by individual ants or coordinated groups. Workers search for sweet and other food sources, including those inside homes.
Tapinoma melanocephalum: Tapinoma melanocephalum, the ghost ant, is a small tropical ant with a dark head and pale legs and abdomen. Its small size and indoor foraging can lead to confusion with black house ants.
Dolichoderinae: Dolichoderinae is a subfamily of ants characterized by a single-segmented waist and a slit-like abdominal opening. This subfamily contains Ochetellus and helps place the species taxonomically.
Ant control: Ant control comprises methods for reducing or preventing ant activity in homes, farms, and other settings. Managing this species often begins by removing food sources and locating nests.
Trail pheromone: A trail pheromone is a chemical signal deposited by an animal to guide others along a route. Chemical trails can help workers recruit nestmates to discovered food.
Technomyrmex albipes: Technomyrmex albipes is a small, dark tramp ant with pale tarsi, widely established in tropical regions. It is another indoor-foraging dolichoderine ant that may be mistaken for Ochetellus glaber.
Ochetellus: Ochetellus is a genus of ants in the subfamily Dolichoderinae, native to the Indo-Pacific region. Ochetellus glaber is the genus’s best-known species.
Integrated pest management: Integrated pest management combines monitoring, prevention, and targeted control to reduce pest impacts while limiting unnecessary pesticide use. This approach suits recurring indoor ant activity better than indiscriminate spraying.