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.

Crematogaster missuriensis is a minute yellowish-brown species. It can be distinguished from the only other similar species in our area, C. minutissima, by the propodeal spines being directed more upward than backward and with the spines having a length of more than one-half the distance which separate their bases. Additionally, C. missuriensis is usually a darker yellowish-brown in color and generally larger in size.

We find this species nesting in open areas and along roadsides.

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