Acrobat Ants Identification Guide
Quick Facts About Acrobat Ants
Acrobat ants get their name from a party trick: when disturbed, they raise their heart-shaped abdomen up over their back. They’re common outdoors in Tennessee and sometimes move into homes, often in wood that’s already damp or damaged.- Size: About 1/16 to 1/8 inch
- Color: Light brown to black; some are two-toned
- Body: Heart-shaped abdomen, two nodes, and a pair of small spines on the back
- Behavior: Raise the abdomen over the body when threatened, and may bite or release an odor
- Nests: In damp or previously damaged wood, foam insulation, and wall voids; outdoors in stumps, logs, and trees
- Diet: Honeydew, sweets, and other insects
How to Identify Acrobat Ants
Look at the abdomen. It’s flat on top, pointed at the tip, and shaped like a heart when viewed from above.Acrobat Ants vs. Carpenter Ants
Both may nest in wood, but carpenter ants are much larger, with one node and a rounded abdomen. Acrobat ants usually move into wood that’s already been damaged by moisture, termites, or carpenter ants, rather than excavating sound wood. See our carpenter ant guide.
Signs and Where They Nest
- Trails along lines: Ants traveling along utility lines, branches, and fences into the house
- Debris near wood: Small piles of insulation or wood fragments near windows and doors
- Indoor nests: Around window and door frames, in foam insulation, and in wall voids near leaks
- Outdoor nests: In dead limbs, stumps, logs, firewood, and under stones
Why Acrobat Ants Point to a Moisture Problem
Acrobat ants indoors often nest in wood softened by a leak. Finding them is a good reason to check nearby windows, roofs, and plumbing for water damage, which can also attract carpenter ants and termites. Damp crawl spaces are another common source; see crawl space encapsulation.
Health & Property Risks
Acrobat ants can give a small bite and release an unpleasant odor, but they aren’t dangerous. They can damage foam insulation and nest in already-damaged wood.
How to Get Rid of Acrobat Ants
- Find the nest: Follow trails at dusk to where the ants enter and nest.
- Use baits: Sweet or protein baits placed along trails reach the colony.
- Fix moisture: Repair leaks and replace damaged wood.
- Trim branches: Cut back limbs and vines touching the house.
If you can’t locate the nest or the ants are in walls, a technician can find and treat it directly. See our ant control services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they called acrobat ants?
When disturbed, they raise their heart-shaped abdomen up over their back, like an acrobat.
Do acrobat ants damage wood?
They usually nest in wood that’s already damaged by moisture or other insects, rather than carving sound wood like carpenter ants. They can damage foam insulation.
Do acrobat ants bite?
They can give a small bite and release an odor when disturbed, but they’re not dangerous.
Why do I have acrobat ants in my house?
Often because of moisture. They like damp or damaged wood around windows, doors, and leaks.
How do I tell acrobat ants from carpenter ants?
Acrobat ants are much smaller and have a heart-shaped abdomen. Carpenter ants are large, with a rounded abdomen.
