Ghost ant

harms people

lives in trees

lives on ground

night active

day active

Scientific name: Tapinoma melanocephalum

Size: approximately 1.5 mm

Colour: pale, almost translucent, antennae, legs and abdomen. Head and thorax are dark brown

General description: this very tiny ant is distinctly two-coloured. It emits the smell of rotten coconuts when disturbed or crushed

Habitat and nesting: the ghost ant is a ground or tree dwelling species that establishes readily in disturbed habitats. The ant nests in plant stems, dry grass, leaf litter, rubbish and debris. 

Rate of spread: unknown.

Distribution: see our invasive ant distributions page for the worldwide distribution of the ghost ant.

Reproduction: unknown, most likely by budding.

For detailed descriptions and identification of ghost ants:

PIAkey: Tapinoma melanocephalum (see diagnostic characters tab)

AntWeb: Tapinoma melanocephalum

Ghost ants foraging on flowers (© Phil Lester)

Close-up of a ghost ant worker (© Eli Sarnat, Creative Commons Attribution, Share Alike CC BY-SA Licence)

Ghost ants foraging on a sugar bait (© Eli Sarnat, Creative Commons Attribution, Share Alike CC BY-SA Licence)