Bug Identifier
Ghost ant
Community identification

Ghost ant

Tapinoma melanocephalum

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

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.