Photo by Melody

Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: Tiny Ants and More, 1 by ShelfLife

Communities > Forums

Image Copyright ShelfLife

Subject: CLOSED: Tiny Ants and More

Forum: Insect and Spider Identification

<<< Previous photo Back to post
Photo of CLOSED: Tiny Ants and More
ShelfLife wrote:
I was sitting in my favorite garden spot when I noticed a goodly amount of sawdust on an oak tree. Being a Floridian, I immediate thought, TERMITES!!!!!

I ran inside for my camera (to document) and a screwdriver (to dig around).

What I discovered -- the sawdust wasn't from the tree (whew), but rather some dead creeping fig vine that is still on the tree (I haven't removed it because Creeping Fig CEMENTS itself to every surface and I didn't want to do more damage by removal).

There were three holes drilled into the dead vine (see pic) and when I started removing it, I discovered lots of teeny-tiny ants (also pictured, but hard to see)...

And then... I found this large larval being snug in the vine -- the pic is after I "unwrapped" it for a better pic.

I've checked other trees with this dead vine on it and saw additional sawdust evidence. What are these teeny-tiny ants, their big larvae friend, and should I be concerned about them?