Ghost Ants

The ghost ant is associated with a complex of ant species known as “tramp ants” that is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical latitudes worldwide. Colonies of T. melanocephalum are reported from such isolated locations as the Galapagos Islands. In temperate latitudes, the ghost ant can establish in greenhouses and other buildings with favorable conditions, even as far north as Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Ghost ant populations and infestations are reported in many areas of the United States, as well as in Canada, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands.

In the United States, the ghost ant is well established in Florida and Hawaii, and its range is expanding. The ant reached Texas in 1994 or 1995, probably through Galveston on a shipment of plants from Florida. While weak to the cold, the ghost ant is still able to distribute itself widely among warmer states.