Types of Ants :: Ghost Ants :: Printer-Friendly Version
Ant Origin & Distribution
Ghost ants (a.k.a. black-headed ants) originated in the Old World tropics. They are common pests in central and south Florida and Puerto Rico. Infestations have been reported in other southeastern states, southeast Texas, Hawaii and sporadically in California and the Pacific Northwest. It is believed that plant shipments from Florida have been responsible for many localized infestations in greenhouses, zoos and other destinations throughout the country. People traveling from Florida may also be responsible for transporting ghost ants to other locations. In northern, colder climates these ants need a heated environment to survive.
Ant Identification
Ghost ants are small ants ranging in size from 1/20" to 1/14" in length. Their head and thorax are dark and their abdomen and legs are light, almost translucent. This coloration and their small size make them hard to see and earns them their "ghost" ant name. Like other ants in the genus Tapinoma (i.e., odorous house ant), ghost ant workers may have a distinct rotten coconut odor when crushed.
Ant Biology
Ghost ant colonies have multiple queens and may be moderate to large in size (100 to 1000 individuals). A colony may actually be made up of a group of sub-colonies occupying a variety of sites and linked by workers following
odor trails. New colonies are produced by "budding" where reproductive queens, workers and brood leave one nest site to start a new one in another location.
Ant Habits
Outdoors, ghost ants nest in areas such as tree cavities, under loose bark, at the base of palm fronds, in flowerpots, in and under firewood and under objects on the ground. They also nest in soil and under debris next to foundations, planters, trees and shrubs. The workers are often seen moving quickly along narrow odor trails that follow structural edges and guidelines. They move onto structures from trails hidden behind vegetation along the base of foundations and via branches of trees and shrubs that are touching structures. The ants gain entry to interior areas of structures through cracks and crevices around doors, windows, soffits, utility pipe and wire entry areas. Foragers are often seen indoors on sinks, counters and floors of kitchens and bathrooms but they are not restricted to those areas. They often move throughout a building via plumbing lines and wires in wall voids and under edges of carpeting. Their indoor nests can be in wall voids, between and behind cabinets, in potted plants brought indoors and in almost any protected area. Nests have even been found in spaces between books, folded clothes and behind loose edges of wallpaper. Ghost ants will feed on honeydew from sap-sucking insects and will also scavenge for dead insects. Indoors they are attracted to sweet and protein foods and may infest packages of these foods if accessible.
Ant Control
If you think you might have a ghost ant infestation in your home, it's imperative that you contact a certified and licensed pest control professional
to inspect the situation and confirm identification. Experts will advise against do-it-yourself options, as it is much more efficient and cost-effective to have a trained set of eyes identify the correct ant species and recommend effective treatment options specific to an individual infestation. Improper do-it-yourself options may result in killing a few ants, while the rest of the colony simply relocates to other areas around and inside the structure.