Species Tapinoma melanocephalum - Ghost Ant

Classification · Range · Internet References · Works Cited

Ghost ant invasion ... yikes! - Tapinoma melanocephalum

Ant - drinking water (with inset) - Tapinoma melanocephalum

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon (Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and Stinging Wasps)

Superfamily Vespoidea (Ants, Stinging Wasps, and Hornets)

Family Formicidae (Ants)

Subfamily Dolichoderinae (Odorous Ants)

Tribe Tapinomini

Genus Tapinoma

Species melanocephalum (Ghost Ant)

Range

native to the Old World tropics(1), adventive elsewhere; in our area, established in FL (expanding) and reached TX in mid-1990s (prob. through Galveston on a shipment of plants from FL); infestations reported in many areas as far north as MB, but in cooler areas the ant can only survive indoors (greenhouses, etc.)

Internet References

Fact sheet by J.C. Nickerson, C.L. Bloomcamp, & R.M. Pereira

Works Cited

1.	Exotic ants in Florida By M. Deyrup, L. Davis, S. Cover

Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck on 27 October, 2006 - 11:24pm
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, v belov
Last updated 5 February, 2011 - 12:51pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2012 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version