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HANNAN PEST LIBRARY / ANTS / THIEF ANT

Thief Ant Overview & Quick Facts

Keep ants out of your home or business with
effective identification and control strategies.

Hannan Pest Library - Thief Ant

A Closer Look at Thief Ants

Don’t let their tiny size fool you — Thief Ants are among the smallest household ants, but they’re also some of the most persistent. Named for their sneaky habit of nesting near other ant colonies and stealing food, larvae, and eggs, these ants are common invaders in homes and commercial kitchens.

🔍 What Do Thief Ants Look Like?

  • Color: Pale yellow to golden or light brown

  • Size: Extremely small — 0.5 to 2 mm (1/32 to 1/16 inch)

  • Traits:

    • Very small eyes

    • Two-segmented waist

    • Antennae with 10 segments and a two-segmented club

    • Smooth, shiny body

Because of their size, Thief Ants are often confused with Pharaoh Ants — but they’re even smaller and harder to spot.

🏡 Where Do Thief Ants Nest?

  • Indoors:

    • Inside wall voids, behind baseboards, under countertops

    • Near cabinets, sinks, and food storage areas

    • Can move between floors through plumbing or wiring

  • Outdoors:

    • Under rocks, in soil, or behind tree bark

    • Near foundations or under debris

They often build their nests next to other ant colonies — hence the name “thief” — to raid them for food and brood.

🍖 What Do Thief Ants Eat?

Thief Ants are grease feeders and also eat:

  • Meats, fats, cheese, and oils

  • Dead insects or animal matter

  • Occasionally sugary foods, though they prefer protein and grease

  • Pet food and pantry items

They are notorious for contaminating food due to their size and ability to access even tightly sealed items.

⚠️ Why Are Thief Ants a Problem?

  • ✅ Extremely small — they can slip through nearly invisible cracks

  • ✅ May contaminate food and medical supplies

  • ✅ Build hidden, hard-to-locate nests

  • ❌ Do not sting, but can be difficult to eliminate

  • Often mistaken for grease ants or pharaoh ants, leading to ineffective treatments

🧠 Behavior & Colony Traits

  • Colonies contain multiple queens and thousands of workers

  • Often build nests close to or inside other ant colonies

  • Will relocate quickly if disturbed

  • Can spread bacteria and pathogens if they’ve accessed unsanitary areas

🧠 Fun Fact!

Thief Ants are so small they can invade sealed food packaging and even pass through standard screens and caulking. If you can see them, they’re already well-established!

Frequently Asked Questions
About Thief Ants

What are Thief Ants?

Thief Ants are tiny household pests named for their tendency to nest near other ant colonies and steal food, brood, and larvae. They’re among the smallest ants in the U.S. and are known for their love of greasy, protein-rich foods.

What do Thief Ants look like?

  • Size: Very small — 0.5 to 2 mm (1/32 to 1/16 inch)

  • Color: Pale yellow to light brown

  • Traits:

    • Tiny eyes

    • Smooth, shiny body

    • 10-segmented antennae with a 2-segmented club

    • Two-segmented waist

Because of their size and color, they’re often mistaken for Pharaoh or grease ants.

Where do Thief Ants live?

  • Indoors:

    • Behind baseboards

    • Inside wall voids

    • Around pantries, kitchens, and under sinks

    • Near plumbing and electrical lines

  • Outdoors:

    • Under stones, in rotting wood, or soil near foundations

    • Nest close to other ant species to raid their colonies

They’re excellent at hiding and can travel between floors and walls undetected.

What do Thief Ants eat?

  • Grease and protein:

    • Meat scraps

    • Fats, cheese, and oils

    • Dead insects

  • Occasionally consume sweets

  • Will invade pantries and pet food bowls

Do Thief Ants sting or bite?

  • ❌ No, they do not sting and their bite is harmless

  • ✅ Their real danger lies in food contamination

Are Thief Ants dangerous?

  • ✅ Yes, as a contamination risk

    • They invade stored food and medical supplies

    • May spread bacteria or pathogens

  • ❌ Not physically dangerous, but hard to control

    • DIY sprays usually fail due to how hidden and small their nests are

How do I know if I have Thief Ants?

  • Seeing tiny yellow ants near grease, meat, or crumbs

  • Activity around sinks, stoves, or inside cabinets

  • Reappearing trails after cleaning

  • Ants coming from wall voids, cracks, or baseboards

How do I get rid of Thief Ants?

  • Seal entry points around doors, pipes, and windows

  • Store food properly and clean up grease and crumbs

  • Use bait products designed for grease- and protein-feeding ants

  • Contact a professional pest control company (like Hannan Environmental) — these ants are difficult to eliminate without expertise

Struggling with ants in your home or yard? Whether it's fire ants, carpenter ants, ghost ants, or any other species, Hannan Environmental Services offers expert ant control and prevention throughout South Florida. Our trained technicians provide safe, effective, and long-lasting solutions to keep your home pest-free. Contact us today for reliable service you can trust! Feel free to also reach out to Hannan Environmental Services on Facebook!