Ghost ants are a common household pest. Understanding their unique appearance is key to identification, as their tiny size and coloration often allow them to go unnoticed. Knowing what to look for can help homeowners recognize an infestation early. This guide helps identify ghost ants by their physical characteristics, movement patterns, and preferred habitats.
Key Physical Features
Ghost ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum) are small, measuring 1.3 to 1.5 millimeters (about 1/16th of an inch) in length. Queens are slightly larger, up to 2.5 millimeters. Their small size makes them challenging to spot without close inspection.
Their bicolored appearance is a key feature, giving them their common name. The head and thorax are dark brown or black, contrasting with their pale, almost translucent legs and abdomen. This transparent body section can make them seem to disappear against light-colored surfaces.
Ghost ants have a slender body with a spineless thorax. A single node, a small segment between the thorax and abdomen, is present. Their antennae have 12 segments that gradually thicken towards the tip, lacking a distinct club.
Distinctive Movement and Trails
Ghost ant movement aids identification. They exhibit quick, erratic movements, darting rather than walking in a straight line. This rapid, scuttling behavior can resemble small spiders. When disturbed, their movements become even more irregular.
Ghost ants form foraging trails between their nest and food sources. Due to their small size and translucent bodies, these trails are faint and difficult to detect. They follow scent trails and travel along edges, such as baseboards, electrical wires, or pipes. A visible trail, even if subtle, indicates a larger colony nearby.
Common Locations for Sighting
Ghost ants thrive in warm, moist environments, which dictates their location. Indoors, they are sighted in kitchens and bathrooms, particularly near sinks, tubs, and showers, where water is available. They nest in wall voids, behind baseboards, between cabinets, and in potted plants.
Outdoors, ghost ants nest in soil, under rocks, in leaf litter, or within rotting wood. They are found near foundations, under porches, or in hollow structures like pool enclosures. These ants gain entry into homes through cracks around windows and doors, or by traveling along tree limbs and utility lines that touch the building.