The Winter Ant is remarkable for being most active in late fall and winter when other ants are dormant, often seen foraging on warm days in January and February when snow is on the ground. Workers store fat in their grossly distended gasters (abdomens) when food is plentiful in fall, serving as living honey-pots that other workers can feed from. Colonies aestivate underground in summer heat.
Habitat
Deciduous forests, parks, and urban areas in the East
Diet
Adults: honeydew, plant sap, dead insects, and sugar-rich foods
How common
Common
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