Latin Name:
Tetramorium caespitum
Appearance:
Light brown to black with appendages lighter than rest of the body. About 1/10-inch long. Parallel lines on head and thorax with a 12-segment antennae.
Habit:
Invades buildings while foraging for food throughout the year. Nests are outdoors under stones, along curbs or in cracks of pavement. Can nest indoors in walls and under floors.
Diet:
Omnivorous. Will eat many things, but prefers greasy and sweet foods.
Reproduction:
Queen produces five to 20 eggs per day; brood develops in about 40 days; young go through three larval stages.
Other:
Slow-moving; a particular nuisance around buildings with slab-on-grade construction
