Bug FAQAshmead's Acrobat Ant
Crematogaster ashmeadi · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae
Ashmead's Acrobat Ant lives mostly above ground, often in treetops and on vines. It commonly makes nests in chambers under the outer bark of living pine trees. The species is one of eleven Crematogaster ants native to eastern North America. Workers have been seen raiding wasp nests and eating the wasp brood.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Nests and foraging occur almost exclusively above ground, in treetops and on lianas. Colonies occupy chambers in the outer bark of living pine trees.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Workers raid wasp nests, such as Mischocyttarus mexicanus, and feed on the brood.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to eastern North America as one of eleven Crematogaster species there.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 22 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Where does Ashmead's Acrobat Ant build its nests?
It builds nests in chambers under the outer bark of living pine trees and also in treetops and on lianas.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Formicidae)
Eastern Black Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusCan damage your home
Red Imported Fire AntSolenopsis invictaCan sting
American Winter AntPrenolepis imparis
Argentine AntLinepithema humileNuisance, not dangerous
Immigrant Pavement AntTetramorium immigransCan sting
Odorous House AntTapinoma sessileCan damage your homeSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crematogaster_ashmeadi
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.