Odorous House Ant

Tapinoma sessile

The Odorous House Ant is a tiny ant that can be found in many homes. They are named for their sweet smell, which is released when they are squished. These ants work together in large groups to find food and build their nests.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Odorous House Ant is a tiny, dark brown to black ant with a smooth, shiny body. It has a single, almost hidden node on its petiole, giving it a streamlined appearance. Its small stature and uniform dark color help distinguish it from larger, lighter-colored ants.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyFormicidaeGenusTapinoma

Odorous House Ant

Interesting facts

Odorous house ants can invade homes by the thousands, seeking sugary snacks.

These ants have multiple queens in a single colony, making them super adaptable.

They can survive being submerged in water for several days, wow!

They often "herd" tiny aphids, protecting them for their sweet honeydew.

Special abilities

Odorous House Ant can release a strong, rotten coconut smell when squished, which deters predators.

Odorous House Ant can build nests in diverse locations, from soil to wall voids, helping them adapt anywhere.

Odorous House Ant has a fast, erratic running pattern that helps them quickly evade dangers.

Odorous House Ant can quickly locate and recruit colony members to new food sources, especially sugary ones.

Measurements & details

Size: 2-3.5 mm
Lifespan: 45-70 days
Leg Count: 6
Colony Size: 100-10000

Diet & Feeding

These tiny ants love to munch on sweets, oils, and even dead insects!

Primary Foods

honeydew
sugary foods
dead insects
fats/oils
fruits

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Garden Spider

Araneus diadematus

A tasty snack for various spiders.

symbiotic with

Cotton Aphid

Aphis gossypii

Protects aphids for their sweet honeydew.

eaten by

Downy Woodpecker

Picoides pubescens

Birds forage for these ants.

eats

House Fly

Musca domestica

Forages on dead house flies.

Traits

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!

Scavenger

Meet nature's clean-up crew! These important animals help keep the environment tidy by eating what other animals have left behind or things that have passed away.