Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius)

Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) is a nuisance ant that is occasionally important as a house pest. Established field populations of the ant appear to be limited to south Florida, but active colonies have been reported as far north as Gainesville (Bloomcamp and Bieman, pers. comm.). In northerly climes, infestations are confined to greenhouses or other buildings that provide conditions necessary for survival. The ant is a tropical species either of African or Oriental origin (Wheeler, 1910); however, this introduced ant species has been so widely distributed by commerce that it is impossible to determine it’s original home (Smith, 1965).