Tapinoma melanocephalum

Nomenclature

Species: Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793)

Vernacular name: Ghost Ant

Syntype: OUMNH - [node:field-collection-code] - CASENT0901925
Syntype: BMNH - [node:field-collection-code] - CASENT0903062
Syntype: BMNH - [node:field-collection-code] - CASENT0903063

External links

Antweb | Antwiki

Diagnostic description

Diagnosis of worker among Antkey species

Antenna 12-segmented. Antennal scape length less than 1.5x head length. Eyes medium to large (greater than 5 facets). Antennal sockets and posterior clypeal margin separated by a distance less than the minimum width of antennal scape. Dorsum of mesosoma with metanotal groove, but never with a deep and broad concavity; lacking erect hairs. Propodeum and petiolar node both lacking a pair of short teeth. Propodeum with dorsal surface distinctly shorter than posterior face; lacking posteriorly projecting protrusion. Waist 1-segmented (may be hidden by gaster). Petiolar node appearing flattened. Gaster armed with ventral slit; with four plates on its dorsal surface, and with the fifth plate on the ventral surface. Distinct constriction not visible between abdominal segments 3+4. Hairs not long thick and produced in pairs. Bicolored with darker brown head and paler brownish yellow body, gaster and appendages.

Tapinoma melanocephalum can be distinguished from Brachymyrmex species, with which it bears superficial resemblance, by the 12-segmented (versus 9-segmented) antenna, and by the presence of a ventral slit (versus acidopore) on the gaster tip. It can be differentiated from Technomyrmex species by the absence (versus presence) or erect hairs on the mesosoma, and by the gaster which has 4 plates on the dorsal surface and 6 on the ventral surface (versus 5 plates on both surfaces). It is most easily differentiated from Tapinoma sessile by the bicolored with dark head and light body, gaster and appendages (versus uniform brown color).

Look alikes

Brachymyrmex species, Technomyrmex species, Tapinoma sessile

Distribution

Click here for updated occurrence data and map on antmaps.org
Click here for updated occurrence data and map on GBIF.org

Videos of live ants

<em>Tapinoma melanocephalum</em> at sugar bait

Tapinoma melanocephalum at cotton ball and sugar solution bait (Suva, Fiji). Notice the dark head, strong recruiting, and very fast movements.

Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com	A house pest in warmer climates around the world. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com	Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
Dorsal view of body, entire, adult. Head distinctly darker than body and appendages.	Anterior view of head, adult. Head distinctly darker than body and appendages.
Anterior view of eye / ocellus, adult. Eyes do not break outline of head.	Anterior view of head, adult worker. The head is a dark brown that contrasts strongly with the pale yellowish body and appendages. Used in Antkey to separate Tapinoma melanocephalum from other species of Dolichoderinae.
Lateral view of thorax / mesosoma, adult. Mesosoma dorsum lacking erect hairs.	Lateral view of thorax / mesosoma, adult. Metanotal groove.
Lateral view of gaster, adult. Gaster armed with ventral slit.	Lateral view of gaster, adult. Gaster with four dorsal plates.