Acrobat ant

This ant gets its name from the fact that they holding their abdomens above their thorax - like acrobats when alarmed.

Identification

Yellowish brown to black; abdomen usually darker average length of worker 2.5 to 4 mm.

Common locations

Acrobat ants may nest both outdoors and indoors. Outdoor nests are most often in dead and decaying wood such as logs, stumps, dead trees limbs, firewood and hollow tree cavities. They may nest in damp soil beneath leaf litter or rocks, under stones or behind house veneers.

Diet

Acrobat ants feed on a wide variety of foods including both sweets and proteins. Inside structures, acrobat ants will feed on household foods and show a preference for sweets.

Additional Info

Like all ants, the acrobat ants may produce winged, reproductive individuals called swarmers. These adults emerge from an established colony, to disperse and start new colonies. Although these swarmers are harmless they may be the first indication of an infestation.