Bug FAQTetramorium hispidum
Tetramorium hispidum · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae
Tetramorium hispidum is an ant that belongs to the Myrmicinae subfamily. It can be recognized by short, stubble-like hairs on the pronotum and frontal carinae, an antenna with eleven segments, and a distinctive structure surrounding the antennal insertions.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Short, stubble-like hairs are present on the pronotum and frontal carinae. The antenna is composed of eleven segments.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It differs from similar Myrmicinae ants by the structure surrounding its antennal insertions.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 5 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Massachusetts.
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
How can I tell Tetramorium hispidum apart from similar ants?
Look for the short, stubble-like hairs on the pronotum and frontal carinae and note the distinctive structure around the antennal insertions.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Formicidae)
Eastern Black Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusCan bite
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/Tetramorium_hispidum
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.