Ghost ants
Ghost ants creep in like tiny phantoms, turning your home into their haunted mansion!
What do ghost ants look like?
Ghost ants are easily recognized by their pale, almost transparent abdomen and legs, which sharply contrast with their dark brown or black head and thorax. Queens have distinct dark stripes across their abdomen, while some workers may have faint stripes as well. Ghost ants are among the smallest ant species. Their workers measure just 1.3-1.5mm, while queens grow up to 2.5mm. These ants have a spineless, hairless thorax and abdomen, with a single node connecting them. However, due to the shape of the gaster, this node isn’t visible from above. Their 12-segmented antennae gradually thicken toward the tip. When ghost ants are crushed they give off a distinctive odour similar to rotten coconuts.
Ghost ant compared to a penny
These ants earned their name due to their ghostly white, almost transparent appearance, which is a very fascinating feature! Their unique coloration creates a striking contrast against different surfaces. When walking on darker backgrounds, their heads and thoraxes seem to disappear, leaving only their white abdomens visible. On lighter surfaces, the opposite happens - their heads and thoraxes stand out while their abdomens vanish, making them look like they're missing half of their bodies.
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Another fascinating trait of their transparent abdomens is that they change colour based on what the ants eat. If they consume food dye or gelatin, for example, their abdomens take on the same hue. Dr. Mohamed Babu, of Mysore, South India discovered this by giving ghost ants food colouring mixed with sugar, water, and a waxy base. The ants began sipping the food colour beverages, and transformed into a beautiful ant rainbow!
Photographs by Mohamed Babu/Solent News/Rex F/AP Images
Where do they nest?
Ghost ants adapt easily to various environments. They thrive both indoors and outdoors, requiring only high moisture. Outdoors, they nest under stones, loose bark, logs, leaf piles, and dead trees. Indoors, they seek out inaccessible, damp areas such as wall voids, sinks, baseboards, and window or door frames. Their tiny size allows them to nest in unexpected places like books, electrical circuits, and telephone jacks. As opportunistic nesters, they settle wherever conditions are suitable, relocating when necessary. Native to tropical climates, ghost ants require warm temperatures to thrive. However, that has not stopped them from establishing populations here in Canada, and they will reside in greenhouses, apartment buildings, and other heated spaces. Remarkably, they have been reported as far north as Winnipeg, Manitoba! Due to their small size, ghost ants are easily transported. They often hitch rides in commercial shipments into Canada. They can be hidden in houseplants, produce, flowers, and potted plants. Travellers can also unknowingly carry them in luggage, clothing, or even electronic devices, aiding their spread into new regions.
What do they eat?
Ghost ants have a diverse diet, feeding on everything from sweets to greasy foods. They aren’t picky eaters and will consume live or dead insects, food waste, pet food, nectar, sweet juices, and honeydew. They also tend to aphids, protecting them from predators in exchange for their sugary secretions. When foraging for food or water, ghost ants move slowly and deliberately. However, if they feel threatened, their movements become erratic and frantic, making them difficult to track.
ghost ant colonies
Ghost ants are categorized as "tramp ants," meaning their colonies can grow large, with multiple nests in one area. A single nest can house anywhere from 100 to 1,000 workers and queens, and once it reaches full capacity, the colony will "bud" off. The queen will often leave with a group of workers to establish a new nest. Ghost ants will also bud their nests if they feel threatened, disturbed, or if conditions become unsuitable. When threatened they will create multiple new nests and rapidly multiply, which is why it is important to contact pest control professionals to ensure correct and effective treatment.
What are the threats of having ghost ants?
Internal Damage
Ghost ants can invade even the tiniest spaces, effortlessly squeezing through nearly anything. Their nesting habits can lead to internal damage in buildings, as they often establish colonies in hidden, hard-to-reach areas. The larger the infestation, the greater the risk of internal damage. These ants can rapidly multiply by splitting off and creating new colonies, allowing infestations to spread quickly. When threatened they will create multiple new nests and rapidly multiply, which is why it is important to contact pest control professionals to ensure correct and effective treatment.
How to get rid of Ghost ants?
If you have noticed ghost ant activity inside or around your home, it is time to call in the pest control experts! Rural Routes Pest Control can provide control for the ant activity you are experiencing.
for more information about our ant control services.