Tebriz Ant (Yellow Meadow Ant / Ghost Ant / Pharaoh Ant)
Scientific Name: Ant species (suggestive of Tapinoma melanocephalum or Monomorium pharaonis)
Order & Family: Hymenoptera: Formicidae
Size: 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments such as kitchens, bathrooms, and greenhouses; also found in tropical and subtropical outdoor habitats.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous; they prefer sweets and sugars (honeydew, syrup, jelly) but also consume dead insects and fatty foods.
Behavior Patterns
Highly social insects that travel in distinct trails; they tend to nest in wall voids, under floors, or in potted plants. They are known for 'budding,' where a sub-colony breaks off to form a new nest.
Risks & Benefits
Primarily a nuisance pest that can contaminate food; in hospitals, they can spread pathogens by crawling over sterile surfaces. They do not sting but can be difficult to eradicate due to multiple queens.
Identified on: 3/12/2026