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Acrobat Ants
Acrobat Ants
Acrobat Ant: Facts, Identification & Control
Latin Name
Crematogaster spp.
Appearance
What do they look like?
Acrobat ants (Crematogaster spp.) get their name from their habit of acrobatically raising their abdomen above their head, especially when they are disturbed.
When viewed from above, the abdomen is heart-shaped. There are several species of acrobat ants in the United States. Acrobat ants are small; most species are less than 5.4 mm in length. Many emit an unpleasant odor when disturbed.
How Did I Get Acrobat Ants?
Acrobat ants typically live outdoors in nests within dead or decaying wood. However, the pests may invade homes through foundation cracks or gaps around wiring and pipes. Also, tree branches that grow close to or in contact with the house provide an entryway. Once indoors, acrobat ant colonies nest in insulation and woodwork, making their way into pantries in search of stored foods.
Homes with previous termite or carpenter ant infestations are also at risk for acrobat ants. The pests often nest inside wood that already contains insect tunnels or water-damaged areas.
How Serious Are Acrobat Ants?
Acrobat ant nests need moisture, so their presence can be a sign of leaks within the home. Homeowners may find lines of the insects traveling from nests to food sources. Also, adult acrobat ants create annual mating swarms. The result can be alarming when the pests abruptly emerge in large numbers.
