Bug FAQNovomessor albisetosus
Novomessor albisetosus · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae
Novomessor albisetosus workers are medium-sized ants about 6 to 8.5 mm long and have a rust-colored body with reddish-brown legs and a dark waist and abdomen. They live in deserts, juniper, pine-oak and riparian woodlands, nesting underground or under stones. The species is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora) and forages for insect pieces, plant tissue and fruit, often alone but cooperating on large items.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The ant’s body is rust-colored, its legs are reddish-brown, and the petiole and abdomen are brownish-black.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Workers measure 6 to 8.5 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) in length. Larvae are about 6.6 mm (0.3 in) long.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Its range includes desert, juniper woodland, pine-oak woodland and riparian scrub.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Forages for insect pieces, plant tissues and fruit. May forage alone but will cooperate when moving large food items.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Nuptial flights start in June.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Active in the morning and evening, not at midday or deep night.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango and Sonora).
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Several features distinguish it from other Novomessor species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 4 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Utah.
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
What do Novomessor albisetosus ants eat?
They collect insect pieces, plant tissue and fruit, sometimes working together on large pieces.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find these ants?
They live in deserts and various woodlands, nesting underground or under stones.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell this ant apart from other Novomessor species?
It has a shorter head and almost parallel eyes, plus other distinguishing features.
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/Novomessor_albisetosus
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 2026-10-22.