Thief Ant

Thief Ant

Distinctive Qualities:

• Two nodes
• One size worker, 1/32 inch (1.5 mm)
• Uneven shape of thorax
• 10 antennal segments
• Antennal club has two segments
• No spines on thorax
• Yellow in color

Tip: These ants are very tiny, probably the smallest ants found infesting structures.  Often confused with the Pharaoh ant.  The primary difference between the two species is the thief ant has a two-segmented antennal club.

Distribution:
S. Molesta are native to the United States.  They can more commonly be found in the central states and the east coast.

Problems:
Theif Ants can be troublesome when they get into human dwellings.  It is extremely hard to find these ants, due to their inaccessible and remote nesting areas and their extremely small size.  They are also not always present outside their colony, and travel far to find food.  Also, they are so small they can get into things that other insects can't get into.  The easiest way to located a colony is to look for trails of ants.  It is also hard to get rid of theif ant infestations because they are not attrtacted to common ant traps.  One of the most common ways to get rid of the ants is to put oil or grease in the middle of the ant trap.  However, this is a hit-or-miss method, because too little grease will not attract the ants, and too much will limit the effectiveness of the trap.  The ants also appear to be resistant to most insecticides.  Solenopsis molesta are sometimes mistaken for the pharaoh ant, because there are similarities between the two.  They are both around the same size, but there are differences.

Scientific Classification