# Four-Spotted Odorous Ant (*Dolichoderus quadripunctatus*)

The Four-Spotted Odorous Ant is a small ant known for its unique smell when disturbed. They are social insects that work together in large groups to find food and build their homes.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Four-Spotted Odorous Ant](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dolichoderus_quadripunctatus_278506566.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Philipp Hoenle, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dolichoderus_quadripunctatus_278506566.jpg)

## Appearance

The Four-Spotted Odorous Ant is a small, dark brown to black ant with a dull, matte sheen. It has four prominent, yellowish-white spots on its abdomen, making it easily identifiable from similar ants.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Hymenoptera
- **Family:** Formicidae
- **Genus:** Dolichoderus

## Interesting facts

- Sometimes, they pretend to be dead when danger is near to trick predators!
- Their "four spots" can sometimes be more or less, making them tricky!
- These ants don't sting, but can bite and spray an irritating liquid!
- They often march in long lines, following invisible scent trails to food.

## Special abilities

- **Stinky Defense:** Four-Spotted Odorous Ants can release a unique, chemical odor when threatened because it helps them scare away predators.
- **Tree Home Builders:** Four-Spotted Odorous Ants have a special ability to build their nests high up in trees because it keeps them safe from ground predators.
- **Sweet Farmers:** Four-Spotted Odorous Ants can "farm" tiny insects called aphids because they produce a sugary liquid called honeydew.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 2-4 mm
- **Lifespan:** 60-90 days
- **Leg Count:** 6
- **Colony Size:** 10000

## Diet & Feeding

These ants are omnivores, enjoying sugary liquids like honeydew and small insects.

- **Primary Foods:** Honeydew, Nectar, Small Insects, Aphids, Dead Arthropods
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Symbiotic with:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — tends for sweet honeydew on plants.
- **Shelter:** [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) — builds nests in tree bark and crevices.
- **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — preys on foraging ants on trees.

## Traits

- [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color.
- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Be careful not to disturb ant nests, as they can bite if they feel threatened.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Four-Spotted Odorous Ant?

Compare the antennae, waist segments, body proportions and size. Workers, queens and males of the same species can look surprisingly different. Ant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How big is Four-Spotted Odorous Ant?

2-4 mm

### How long does Four-Spotted Odorous Ant live?

60-90 days

### What does Four-Spotted Odorous Ant eat?

These ants are omnivores, enjoying sugary liquids like honeydew and small insects.

### Where is Four-Spotted Odorous Ant usually found?

Forests

### How does Four-Spotted Odorous Ant hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Four-Spotted Odorous Ant have?

6

### How large are Four-Spotted Odorous Ant colonies?

10000

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

---

Source: [Four-Spotted Odorous Ant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/four-spotted-odorous-ant)