Bug Identifier
Ghost Ant
Community identification

Ghost Ant

Tapinoma melanocephalum

Order & Family
Hymenoptera: Formicidae
Size
Commonly 1.3 to 1.5 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide; commonly found indoors in kitchens and bathrooms, or outdoors under logs, stones, and loose bark.

Diet & Feeding

Opportunistic feeders that prefer sweets, honeydew from aphids, and occasionally small insects; indoors they scavenge for grease, sugar, and crumbs.

Behavior Patterns

Known for their erratic and rapid movement when disturbed. They form large, multi-queen colonies and are highly adaptable, often nesting in small, temporary voids or hollow spaces.

Risks & Benefits

Primarily a nuisance pest indoors due to their numbers and ability to contaminate food. They do not sting and their bite is usually too small to be felt by humans. Beneficially, they scavenge organic debris.