turfgrass ant

Turfgrass ant is a relatively small ant with relatively large eyes. It occurs throughout the United States and southern Canada but is especially common in the eastern half of North America. It is common and abundant in Minnesota. It is found in well-drained soil, in craters and under stones, in nearly all open habitats, including agricultural fields, old fields, sand dunes, golf courses, lawns, roadsides, and sidewalks. Less commonly, it is found in open woodlands and shaded woodland borders. It is never found deep in forests.

Workers are ⅛″ (3 mm) long and light brown to medium brown, rarely dark brown. The head, thorax, and abdomen are hairy. The hairs are relatively short (relative to closely related species) and many of the hairs recline or even lay flat with just the tips ascending.

The head is slightly darker than the body. The eyes are large. The margins of the facial plate above the mouth (clypeus) are angular, not curved. This can only be viewed when the mandibles are open. The three basal teeth on the mandible are unequally spaced, and the second tooth is smaller than the other two. The finger-like sensory mouth part (maxillary palp) is long and has six segments. The basal segment of each antennae (scape) is very long and hairy, and has several erect hairs.

There is a distinct notch in the upper (dorsal) surface of the thorax.

The abdomen consists of a large first segment (propodeum) that is fused to the thorax; a narrow waist-like second segment (petiole); and the bulbous remainder (gaster).

On the front legs the fourth segment (tibia) has fewer than six erect hairs. On the hind legs there is a row of at least four erect hairs on the lower edge.

Worker: ⅛″ (3 mm)

Male: ⅛″ (3 mm)

Queen: ¼″ to 5 ⁄16″ (7 to 8 mm)

Well-drained, open habitats: agricultural fields, old fields, sand dunes, lawns, sidewalks, and roadsides

Males and queens take to the air in a swarm and mate around the first Monday in September (Labor Day), giving this species one of its common names, “Labor Day field ant.”

Aphid honeydew, other insects

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

Common and abundant in Minnesota

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota