What are the tiny ants in the kitchen?

The little black ants commonly found in kitchens are known as Monomorium minimum. They are native to the United States and can be brown or black in color.

Worker ants are up to 1.5 millimeters in length, and queens measure up to 4 millimeters. Monomorium minimum are omnivorous. Their diet includes insects, sweets, vegetables, corn meal, greasy or oily foods and fruit. The colony requires a fresh water supply. Due to their high population density per nest, they are easy to see after they form trails to forage. Nests are found in open soil, under rocks, in wood, walls and under carpet.