# Western Velvety Tree Ant (*Liometopum occidentale*) The Western Velvety Tree Ant is a small, shiny black ant that loves to climb trees. They are often seen working together to build their homes in the bark of trees and are very busy little creatures! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Western Velvety Tree Ant](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Liometopum_occidentale_casent0005328_profile_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: April Nobile, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liometopum_occidentale_casent0005328_profile_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Velvety Tree Ant is a medium-sized ant, typically dark brown to black, often with a reddish-brown head and thorax. Its body has a dense covering of fine, short hairs, giving it a soft, velvety appearance. This ant is distinguished by its body shape and distinct strong odor when disturbed. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Formicidae - **Genus:** Liometopum ## Interesting facts - If squished, these ants release a strong smell like blue cheese or citronella! - Some colonies can grow to have more than 80,000 busy worker ants! - Their huge colonies can sometimes spread across several different trees! - They use tiny hairs on their bodies to help them climb smooth surfaces like glass! ## Special abilities - **Stinky Defense:** Western Velvety Tree Ant can release a strong, smelly liquid when disturbed, deterring predators with its unpleasant odor. - **Scent Trail Mapping:** Western Velvety Tree Ant can lay invisible chemical trails to efficiently guide colony members to food and nest sites. - **Honeydew Farming:** Western Velvety Tree Ant can 'farm' tiny aphids, protecting them from predators in exchange for sugary honeydew. - **Flexible Housing:** Western Velvety Tree Ant can quickly relocate its entire colony to a new nest if their current home is threatened. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 3.5-7 mm - **Lifespan:** 90-365 days - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 80000 ## Diet & Feeding These ants are omnivores, enjoying sugary liquids like honeydew and also snacking on small insects. - **Primary Foods:** honeydew, small insects, nectar, caterpillars - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Symbiotic with:** Cotton aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — tend for sweet honeydew - **Shelter:** California Live Oak (*Quercus agrifolia*) — nests in tree cavities - **Eaten by:** [Western Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-bluebird) (*Sialia mexicana*) — a food source for birds - **Hunts:** Silky Ant (*Formica fusca*) — preys on other ants ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to disturb their homes in trees; they are busy workers! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western Velvety Tree 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 Western Velvety Tree Ant? 3.5-7 mm ### How long does Western Velvety Tree Ant live? 90-365 days ### What does Western Velvety Tree Ant eat? These ants are omnivores, enjoying sugary liquids like honeydew and also snacking on small insects. ### Where is Western Velvety Tree Ant usually found? Forests ### How does Western Velvety Tree Ant hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Western Velvety Tree Ant have? 6 ### How large are Western Velvety Tree Ant colonies? 80000 ## Where to spot - [Yosemite Valley](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/yosemite-valley) — California, US · Natural Landmark ## 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: [Western Velvety Tree Ant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-velvety-tree-ant)