
Community identification
Ghost ant
Tapinoma melanocephalum
- Order & Family
- Hymenoptera: Formicidae
- Size
- Exceedingly small, approximately 1.3 to 1.5 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide; commonly found indoors in greenhouses, kitchens, and bathrooms in temperate climates.
Diet & Feeding
Broadly omnivorous, showing a strong preference for sweets such as honeydew and sugary household foods; also consumes grease and various insects.
Behavior Patterns
Highly mobile and erratic movement; they form multi-queen (polygynous) colonies and often relocate nests quickly if disturbed. They frequently travel along baseboards and sinks.
Risks & Benefits
Primarily a nuisance household pest that can contaminate food; however, they do not sting and their bite is generally too small to be felt by humans. They provide some ecosystem benefit by scavenging or preying on small arthropods.