Big-headed Ant Facts

• Appearance: Big-headed ants get their name from the appearance of the major workers – they have very large heads in relation to their bodies. The front half of the major’s head is sculptured, while the back half is smooth and shiny.
• Colony types: Every colony of big-headed ants has two distinct types of workers: major workers and minor workers.
• Color: Reddish brown
• Size: Major workers are about 0.31 cm and minor workers are 0.16 cm.

Big-headed Ant Behavior

Most indoor problems with big-headed ants begin outdoors. They often are observed when foraging for food both inside and outside. Although they do not usually nest inside of homes, they often enter to forage through cracks in the foundation. Outdoors, these ants eat sweet liquids such as honeydew, dead insects, and soil invertebrates. Indoors, they prefer foods that are high in protein. These ants readily make trails between their nest and their food source. Colonies typically consist of multiple queens.