Wooly Pavement Ant
Tetramorium lanuginosum
This record describes Tetramorium lanuginosum (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very hairy and round myrmicine ants with long propodeal spines and obvious antennal scrobes.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Myrmicinae
- Tribe
- Crematogastrini
- Genus
- Tetramorium (Pavement Ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around human development.
Geographic Range
Introduced to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide from its native SE Asia to Australia range. In our area, introduced to the Southeast, from LA to SC to FL. Its range is not continuous, since it has a hard time competing with native species in the US and is mostly found in disturbed habitats. It has also been introduced to Hawaii.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Tetramorium lanuginosum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wooly Pavement Ant
What is Wooly Pavement Ant?
Wooly Pavement Ant (Tetramorium lanuginosum) is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Wooly Pavement Ant?
Very hairy and round myrmicine ants with long propodeal spines and obvious antennal scrobes.
Where is Wooly Pavement Ant found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Around human development. |
| Range | Introduced to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide from its native SE Asia to Australia range. In our area, introduced to the Southeast, from LA to SC to FL. Its range is not continuous, since it has a hard time competing with native species in the US and is mostly found in disturbed habitats. It has also been introduced to Hawaii. |