# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Coconut Ant ![Odorous House Ant](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426339/objects/2485.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Formicidae - **Genus:** Tapinoma ## 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 - **Stink Bomb Shield:** Odorous House Ant can release a strong, rotten coconut smell when squished, which deters predators. - **Anywhere Nesting:** Odorous House Ant can build nests in diverse locations, from soil to wall voids, helping them adapt anywhere. - **Lightning Escape:** Odorous House Ant has a fast, erratic running pattern that helps them quickly evade dangers. - **Sweet Treat Scout:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-woodpecker) (*Picoides pubescens*) — Birds forage for these ants. - **Eats:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Forages on dead house flies. ## Traits - [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. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't touch ants or their nests; they are best admired from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Odorous House 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 Odorous House Ant? 2-3.5 mm ### How long does Odorous House Ant live? 45-70 days ### What does Odorous House Ant eat? These tiny ants love to munch on sweets, oils, and even dead insects! ### Where is Odorous House Ant usually found? Urban areas ### How does Odorous House Ant hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Odorous House Ant have? 6 ### How large are Odorous House Ant colonies? 100-10000 ## Where to spot - [Brookside Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookside-reservation) — Ohio, US · Park - [Davisville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/davisville-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [East Plymouth Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-plymouth-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Hickory Hill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hickory-hill-park) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [Russian Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/russian-village-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [South Britain Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-britain-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Odorous House Ant](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/odorous-house-ant) ## Watch - [Play video: Odorous House Ant](https://www.snappit.app/videos/odorous-house-ant) - [YouTube](https://www.snappit.app/rejected_by_user) ## 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: [Odorous House Ant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/odorous-house-ant)