Latin: Camponotus herculeanus
It is not without reason that the Hercules ant has earned its name. The Hercules ant is the largest ant in Denmark. However, the ant, which also goes by its Latin name Camponotus herculeanus, is not very common in Denmark. It is only found in North Jutland and North Zealand, where it lives in the areas’ coniferous forests.
Appearance
Although the Hercules ant as described is the largest ant in Denmark, not all the species’ ants are the same size. The queen is barely two centimeters long, but the workers have to accept being somewhat more modest in size. The smallest working ants grow to about five millimeters, while the largest can reach up to about 14 millimeters.
Biology and behavior
After mating, the Hercules ant queen searches for a tree stump, a trunk on a felled tree or similar woodwork where she can build her nest. The ant prefers to use coniferous wood for the purpose but can sometimes also find various types of deciduous tree species.
The queen digs herself into the tree to shape her nest. In this nest she raises a litter of workers, with them she can start her own colony, which after some time can grow large. Such a colony could easily contain between 2-3,000 individuals. Sometimes several nests are built at the same time, the so-called “satellite nests”, which all start from the same core, namely the main nest, where the queen, the larvae and the eggs are located.
The Hercules ants dig their nests in the softer spring wood. What is left is the harvest wood as a cross-section of regular rings in the tree. If you make a longitudinal cut of the wood, the excesses of the ants will be slats in the wood. Between the slats there are small openings that are the ants’ internal passage systems in the wood. Often small holes will also appear in the wood. These holes are created by the ants as a kind of windows facing the world.
The anthill is kept neat and clean, and the ants make sure to keep the walking systems free of debris from the wood. This residual waste is placed in the cavities of the wood or disposed of through holes in the wood, the so-called windows.
The Hercules ants are most active at night. Therefore, it is not unheard of that one does not see much of them, even though there is an anthill near the home. They feed mainly on insects and other similar small animals, but also like to consume sweet plant juices.
Damage
The Hercules ants usually settle mainly in holiday homes in North Jutland and North Zealand. And here they can be a big irritation. Because they settle inside, they most often choose wood, which is part of the hidden construction in the cottages, as a target for their nests. This means that floors, walls, and roof constructions are ideal for their purpose.
When the ants attack the tree, they completely erode it. This means that the Hercules ants can cause great damage as the wood will be destroyed and useless after an attack. And unlike many other insects, Hercules ants prefer to attack healthy coniferous trees for their nests.
Prevention and pest control
Although one wants to prevent the herculean ant, it is unfortunately not possible. However, it is advantageous to keep a close eye on your property if there are any signs of the Hercules ants appearing. Often one will not be in doubt as the ants like to make trips in and out of the house. If you find or suspect that the house is infested with herculean ants, you should first contact your insurance company.
The best way to get rid of the ants is to find the ant nest itself and destroy it. But it can be a difficult task and often it will not be enough to take the fight against the ants into your own hands. It usually requires the help of a professional pest service to put an effective stop to the ants.
As described, the Hercules ants can cause some damage to the woodwork in the house, and in the event of very strong attacks, it may be necessary to replace parts of the woodwork. In the same embrace, you should also always treat nearby woodwork with a wood preservative. If a replacement of the wood is not necessary, holes can be drilled into the ants’ nest, which is treated with a liquid wood preservative. In the case of minor infestations, one can try to treat infested cavities with an ant powder, just as the ants’ entrances and exits to and from the house should be treated with barrier belts of ant powder.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)