
Community identification
Ghost ant
Tapinoma melanocephalum
- Order & Family
- Order: Hymenoptera; Family: Formicidae
- Size
- 1.3 to 1.5 mm
Natural Habitat
Widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions; found indoors in kitchens and bathrooms, or outdoors in flowerpots, under bark, and in soil.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous; prefers sweets (honeydew from aphids) but also eats insects, grease, and crumbs.
Behavior Patterns
Highly mobile and form erratic running patterns when disturbed; they establish multiple interconnected colonies (polygynous) and move nests frequently if disturbed.
Risks & Benefits
Primarily a nuisance household pest that can contaminate food; they do not sting and their bite is generally unfelt, but they can act as a minor benefit by predating on other small indoor pests.