Ghost Ant
Tapinoma melanocephalum
Nearly invisible on light surfaces. They nest prolifically in humid voids and potted soils, forming vast supercolonies.
About this species
Ghost ants are almost invisible. They measure barely 1/16 of an inch long, and their pale, translucent abdomens blend perfectly into light-colored kitchen tiles and countertops. Homeowners rarely notice them until the infestation is severe. They hunt for sugar. You’ll find them trailing toward spilled juice or syrup residue, because they need constant moisture.
Look for them behind dishwashers, inside wall voids near plumbing, or in the soil of an overwatered potted plant. Treating just one nest rarely works. Ghost ants build satellite colonies. If you only kill the ants under the sink, the hidden nests behind the drywall remain completely active.
Identification
Size:
1.3–1.5 mm
Color:
Dark brown head and thorax; translucent legs and gaster
Image by April Nobile / © AntWeb.org
Key ID Features:
- Smooth where the waist meets the abdomen, with no small spine or hump sticking up (no “petiole node” or “thoracic spines,” in technical terms)
- Dark brown head and middle section (thorax), with see-through, pale legs and rear end (gaster)
- Its antennae stick out noticeably past the back edge of its head