Tapinoma melanocephalum

  • Synopsis
  • Diagnostic Characters
  • Comparison Chart
  • Images
  • Video
  • Nomenclature
  • References & Links

Threat Level: Medium

Tapinoma melanocephalum, commonly known as the ghost ant or dark-headed ant, is a very small species with a dark head that contrasts with the paler appendages and gaster. It has a single, flattened waist segment that is often hidden by the gaster, eyes that lie within the outline of the face, and no erect hairs on the mesosoma. Like all dolichoderines, T. melanocephalum lacks an acidopore. In the field, T. melanocephalum is easily recognized by the dark head and nearly translucent gaster, fast and erratic movements, strong foraging lines and aggressive recruiting to baits and food resources. When mounted on pins, specimens of T. melanocephalum tend to shrivel and become difficult to recognize.

Few species in PIAkey can be confused for T. melanocephalum. Technomyrmex shares many of the same characters, but the presence of several erect hairs on the mesosoma, larger size and more uniform dark coloration sets species in this genus apart.

Tapinoma melanocephalum is a common household pest ant in the Pacific and in tropical habitats across the globe. These ants are particularly attracted to sugar, and are also fond of foraging on vegetation and walls. For a more complete review of the biology, impacts and management of T. melanocephalum, users are referred to the IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) web page.

  • Waist with one segment (petiole)

  • Petiole flat, not raised
  • Petiole often hidden by gaster
  • Gaster not armed with sting or acidopore
  • Eyes, in full face view, do not break outline of head
  • Dorsal surface of mesosoma with erect hairs absent
  • Face dark with very pale antennae and mandibles
Tapinoma melanocephalum vs.
Linepithema humile, Iridomyrmex anceps group, Technomyrmex species

T. melanocephalum L. humile I. anceps group Technomyrmex spp.
Head
Profile
Petiole
flat
raised
raised
flat
Dorsum of mesosoma with erect hairs
absent

absent

present

few, but present
Face color
bicolored
(antennae & mandibles pale; head dark)
uniform
uniform
uniform
T. melanocephalum L. humile I. anceps group Technomyrmex spp.

Tapinoma melanocephalum
CASENT0171078
(head)
Tapinoma melanocephalum
at sugar solution bait
(Suva, Fiji)

Tapinoma melanocephalum
CASENT0171078
(profile)
Tapinoma melanocephalum
at sugar solution bait
(Suva, Fiji)

Tapinoma melanocephalum
CASENT0171078
(dorsal)
Tapinoma melanocephalum
carrying larvae
(Suva, Fiji)		  

Tapinoma melanocephalum
CASENT0171078
(label)
Tapinoma melanocephalum
on stone
(Suva, Fiji)

Tapinoma melanocephalum at cotton ball and sugar solution bait (Suva, Fiji). Notice the small size, bicolored appearance, and extremely rapid movement (the video is in real time). The dark heads contrasting with paler bodies and gasters make this species one of the easier invasive ants to identify in the field.

Subfamily Dolichoderinae

Tapinoma melanocephalum. Formica melanocephala Fabricius, 1793: 353 (w.) FRENCH GUIANA. Emery, 1887a: 249 (m.); Forel, 1891b: 102 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1951: 197 (l.); Crozier, 1970: 119 (k.). Combination in Micromyrma: Roger, 1862b: 258; in Tapinoma: Mayr, 1862: 651; in Tapinoma (Micromyrma): Santschi, 1928e: 475. Senior synonym of pellucida: Mayr, 1886c: 359; of nana: Emery, 1892b: 166; of familiaris: Forel, 1899c: 101; of australis: Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 80; of australe: Bolton, 1995b: 401. Current subspecies: nominal plus coronatum, malesianum. See also: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1421; Shattuck, 1994: 148.

  • Antweb: specimen images, data & maps

  • Global Invasive Species Database: information about ecology, distribution, impacts, management, references, links and contacts

  • Bolton, B. (1995) A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 504 pp.

  • Wilson, E.O. & Taylor, R.W. (1967) The ants of Polynesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pacific Insects Monograph, 14, 1-109.