Small Honey Ant - View of Pinched Thorax - Photo Courtesy of AntWeb - www.antweb.org

Small (False) Honey Ant (Prenolepis imparis)

Honey Ant
Small (False) Honey Ant (Prenolepis imparis)

Honey Ant
Description of Workers: Small golden yellow to brown workers, about 1/8-inch (3.5 mm). Stiff hairs are present on the abdomen and thorax. First segment of antenna is longer than the top of the head. Pedicel looks heart-shaped when viewed from front or back. When full of food from foraging, these ants have swollen gasters (abdomen).

Habits:

Small colonies. These ants build nests in open, well-shaded areas, seldom under items such as logs or stone. You may find nests in soil under shrubs and landscaping beds. The nest consists of numerous small galleries dug in the soil and excavated soil particles are deposited in a crater-shaped mound. Ants forage in easily detected trails. This ant prefers sweets and tends aphids for the honeydew that is produced, but may forage on sweets in the kitchen.

Management:

Management involves treating colonies by injecting 1-2 ounces of liquid insecticide into entrance hole using a crack and crevice tip. Baits may also be effective.

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This resource was updated November 2015 by Soni Cochran, Extension Associate

  • Credits: Ant illustrations were developed by Vicki Jedlicka, Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County
  • Photo Courtesy of http://www.antweb.org. Photographer: April Nobile

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