What Are Ghost Ants?
Ghost ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum) are tiny ants (about 1.5 mm) named for their pale, almost translucent legs and abdomen that make them difficult to see. Their dark head and thorax appear to float, giving them a ghostly appearance. They are among the smallest ants found in North Carolina homes.
Habitat & Behavior
Ghost ants are a tropical species that have become established in heated buildings throughout North Carolina. They nest in a variety of indoor locations including wall voids, behind baseboards, inside potted plant soil, and between cabinet liners. Outdoors, they nest under mulch, stones, and leaf litter.
These ants have a strong preference for sweet foods and are commonly found trailing along kitchen counters, near sugar bowls, and around honey containers. They also feed on grease, dead insects, and other protein sources. When crushed, they produce a coconut-like odor.
Prevention & Control
Ghost ants have multiple queens per colony and can split into new colonies readily, making them challenging to eliminate. Conventional sprays often cause colony budding—surviving ants scatter and form new colonies in different locations. Professional control using sweet liquid baits that workers carry back to the colony is the most effective approach.