Acrobat Ants
(Crematogaster spp.)
Small ants with a distinctive heart-shaped abdomen they raise over their body when disturbed.
Overview
Acrobat ants get their common name from their unique defensive behavior — when disturbed, they raise their heart-shaped abdomen up over their thorax and head, resembling a tiny acrobat. They commonly nest in moist or damaged wood and can become a nuisance when they establish colonies inside wall voids. In Bowling Green, they are often found nesting in rotting fence posts, tree stumps, and woodpiles, and they enter homes through gaps around utility lines and window frames.
Appearance
Acrobat ants are small, ranging from 1/16 to 1/8 inch. Their most identifying feature is the heart-shaped (or spade-shaped) abdomen, which is distinctly wider than the rest of the body when viewed from above. They vary in color from light yellowish-brown to dark brown or black, and some species are multicolored. They have two nodes between the thorax and abdomen and a pair of spines on the thorax.
Habitat
Outdoors, acrobat ants nest in moist or decaying wood, under bark, in tree cavities, and beneath stones. They frequently move into old carpenter ant or termite galleries. Indoors, they nest in damaged or moist wood in wall voids, foam insulation, and around leaky windows. They often follow utility lines and pipes to enter structures.
Diet
Acrobat ants are primarily predatory and scavenging insects. They feed heavily on honeydew produced by aphids and other plant-feeding insects, and they actively prey on other small insects. Indoors, they are attracted to sweets and high-protein foods like meat and cheese.
Lifecycle
Acrobat ant colonies are moderately sized, typically containing a few thousand workers and a single queen. Winged reproductives swarm during summer and early fall. After mating, queens establish new colonies in suitable wood cavities. Colony growth is relatively slow compared to other ant species.
Signs of Infestation
- !Trails of small ants along utility lines, wires, or pipes entering the home
- !Small bits of foam insulation or wood debris pushed out from cracks in walls
- !Workers raising their heart-shaped abdomens when disturbed or threatened
- !Presence of ants near moist or water-damaged areas of the home
Prevention Tips
- ✓Repair or replace water-damaged wood promptly
- ✓Trim tree branches and vegetation away from the home
- ✓Seal gaps around utility lines, pipes, and wires where they enter the house
- ✓Store firewood away from the structure
- ✓Fix moisture problems in crawl spaces, attics, and wall voids
Professional Treatment
Treatment for acrobat ants starts with locating the nest, which is often inside wall voids or above ceilings. Professionals use dust or aerosol formulations injected into nest cavities, combined with non-repellent perimeter treatments and baiting strategies. Correcting the moisture conditions that attracted them in the first place is essential for long-term prevention.
Did You Know?
- •Their heart-shaped abdomen is unique among common household ants and makes identification easy.
- •They often reuse abandoned carpenter ant or termite galleries for nesting.
- •When threatened, they can emit a foul odor as a chemical defense.
- •Some species are known to strip insulation from electrical wires, which can cause short circuits.
1/16 to 1/8 inch
Light brown to dark brown or black
6
Heart-shaped abdomen, segmented
Saint Valentine ant, Cocktail ant
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Other Ants in Our Library
Carpenter Ants
Large ants that excavate wood to build their nests, potentially causing structural damage to homes.
Odorous House Ants
Tiny dark ants that release a rotten coconut-like smell when crushed and commonly invade kitchens.
Pavement Ants
Small brown ants that nest in cracks in pavement and driveways and forage indoors for food.