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Meet the Thief Ant
Back in the days of the Wild West, Jesse James and his outlaw
gang were some pretty crafty dudes. They robbed everything
from stagecoaches and trains to banks and homes. His bandit
bunch crept into towns, only to high-tail it out ahead of angry
lawmen and Wanted posters bearing James clan faces. Imagine if
the Jesse James family moved in right next door to your house!
Many ant species in New York City face this predicament every
day when thief ants (a.k.a. Solenopsis molesta) come to town.
Thief ants are the Jesse James gang of the ant world, and these
bite-size burglars pickpocket and plunder anything they can get
their little mandibles around, living lives of artifice that would
make Mr. James sit up and take some notes.
Even though he was a robber and a murderer, Jesse James won
the public’s hearts, in part because he was easy on the eyes.
Thief ants are no different. Whenever I stumble upon a thief ant
Urban Life
Where it lives: Thief ants nest underground in
forests and open, grassy areas. They also like
to nest in human structures. They particularly
like nesting near other ant species’ nests.
What it eats: Tiny ants with big appetites, thief
ants prefer protein like dead insects.
NYC notes: Thief ants love New York. They
can be found everywhere. They rise out of
cracks. They climb buildings. They show up on
rooftops. They are abundant and incredible
and always there.
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