Subfamily MYRMICINAE
Tribe CREMATOGASTRINI
Crematogaster ashmeadi Mayr

Ants in the genus Crematogaster are often referred to as acrobat ants because of their propensity to arc the gaster upward and over the alitrunk in a manner that resembles a contortionist or acrobat. They are small, monomorphic ants. Workers have an 11-segmented antenna, the presence of variably long propodeal spines, a flattened petiole, and a somewhat heart-shaped gaster. The postpetiole is attached to the dorsal surface of the gaster, and this characteristic will differentiate this genus from other genera in our area.

This species ranges in color from light brown to almost black, with short propodeal spines having the inner margins parallel to the longitudinal body axis (in dorsal view). The pronotal pleurae is mostly unsculpured with a large band smooth, reflective, or shiny. The pronotum has only a few erect hairs confined to the humeral shoulders.

Crematogaster ashmeadi is a very common species in both AL and MS and nests in many different trees, shrubs, and vines in a wide variety of habitats.

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