Dark Rover Ant

Brachymyrmex patagonicus

Dark rover ants are known for their extremely high-speed, erratic movement, which gives them their 'rover' name.

Scientific name: Brachymyrmex patagonicus
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hymenoptera › Formicidae › Brachymyrmex
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: increasing
Biome: urban
Habitat: Disturbed soils, gardens, potted plants, and structural voids in buildings.
Diet: Primarily nectar and honeydew from sap-sucking insects; also scavenges for household sweets.
Range: North America, South America
Size: 1.5 to 2.0 mm in length.
Lifespan: Workers live 3-6 months; queens can live over a year.
Active: diurnal
Threats: Pesticide use and competition from larger invasive ant species like the Argentine ant.
Safe to approach?: Completely harmless to humans. They do not sting and their bite is too small to be felt. If found indoors, they are a nuisance rather than a threat; simply seal entry points and clean sugary spills to discourage them.

Brachymyrmex patagonicus is a species of ant in the family Formicidae.

Photo: Jesse Rorabaugh, CC0, via iNaturalist