Appearance:
Acrobat ants have very shiny bodies that vary in color from light red to dark brown or black. They have a heart-shaped abdomen, and get their name from the unique habit of running with it bent up and over their thorax when bothered or agitated, and may sting or bite. They are often very shiny.

Size:
Range from 1/8-inch to more than a ¼-inch in length

Behavior:
Acrobat ants eat a wide variety of foods, including sweets and proteins, especially those contained in the honeydew produced by aphids and other sap-feeding insects. They have also been known to feed on termites or other ants. Acrobat ants will trail along tree limbs, utility lines, and fences; they can enter structures by simply crawling through cracks or any opening such as windows. They can found both indoors and outdoors, and some species emit a foul odor when bothered.

Habitat:
Acrobat ants are the most dominant arboreal ant species in the forests of Northern Florida, and prefer nesting in dead or decaying wood. You will not find them in above-ground mounds. They are extremely territorial, and only one colony will exist in a tree. When nesting in structures, acrobat ants live in moist or rotting wood, or in wood kept damp by leaking plumbing fixtures.