List of ants of Australia facts for kids

Australia is home to a huge and varied collection of ants! In 1999, scientists had described 1,275 different types of ants (including subspecies) in Australia and its nearby islands. These ants belonged to 103 groups called genera and 10 larger groups called subfamilies. Since then, even more ants have been discovered, and now Australia has about 12 ant subfamilies. Very few of the ant species in Australia are considered invasive, meaning they don't cause problems for the local environment.

Australia is special because it has two-thirds of all the ant subfamilies found worldwide. It also has one-third of all known ant genera and about 15% of all described ant species. Some ant groups found in Australia can't be found anywhere else! While places like Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia have more ant diversity, Australia has about the same number of genera and species as the Orient (Asia) and more than Europe, North America, Northern Asia, and Northern Africa. The state of Queensland, in particular, is an ant hotspot, with over 1,400 species known there – that's more than anywhere else in the world! Scientists believe there could be over 6,500 ant species in Australia, but only about one in five have been officially described.

Ant Subfamilies in Australia

In 1999, scientists knew about 10 ant subfamilies living in Australia. However, some of these groups were later combined under a subfamily called Dorylinae. Today, Australia is home to 12 known ant subfamilies. These include Amblyoponinae, Dolichoderinae, Dorylinae, Ectatomminae, Formicinae, Heteroponerinae, Leptanillinae, Myrmeciinae, Myrmicinae, Ponerinae, Proceratiinae and Pseudomyrmecinae.

The Myrmicinae subfamily is the biggest ant group in Australia, both in the number of different genera and species it contains. The Formicinae subfamily is also very common. The Myrmeciinae subfamily includes two genera that are found only in Australia, except for one species that lives in New Caledonia. Interestingly, only one species from the Leptanillinae subfamily is known to live in Australia.

Meet Some Australian Ant Genera

Australia is home to many fascinating ant genera. Here are some of them:

Acropyga

These ants are known for their small size and for "farming" tiny insects called mealybugs underground. They protect the mealybugs, and in return, the mealybugs provide a sweet liquid called honeydew for the ants to eat.

Adlerzia

The only known species in this genus is Adlerzia froggatti, sometimes called the Thumbelina ant because of its small size.

Aenictus

These ants are often called army ants. They are known for their large groups that move together, hunting for food.

Amblyopone

These ants are also known as Dracula ants or Michelin ants. They are predators, meaning they hunt other small insects and arthropods for food.

Anochetus

These ants are sometimes called trap-jaw ants because of their powerful, fast-snapping jaws. They use these jaws to catch prey or even to jump away from danger.

Anonychomyrma

This group includes ants like the Forest black cocktail ant and the Golden-black cocktail ant. They are known for their unique body shapes.

Anoplolepis

One notable species here is Anoplolepis gracilipes, also known as the Crazy ant. This is an introduced species in Australia, meaning it came from another country and can sometimes cause problems for local wildlife.

Aphaenogaster

These ants are often called funnel ants because of the funnel-shaped entrances to their nests. They include species like the Desert funnel ant and the Forest funnel ant.

Arnoldius

This genus contains several species, including Arnoldius flavus and Arnoldius pusillus.

Austromorium

Two species are known in this genus: Austromorium flavigaster and Austromorium hetericki.

Austroponera

The only known species in this genus is Austroponera rufonigra.

Brachyponera

This genus includes Brachyponera croceicornis and Brachyponera lutea.

Calomyrmex

These ants are often called beauty ants because of their shiny, colorful bodies. Examples include the Black beauty ant and the Speckled beauty ant.

Calyptomyrmex

This genus has several species, many of which were described recently in 2011.

Camponotus

This is a very large group of ants, often called sugar ants or carpenter ants. They are known for their love of sweet foods and for sometimes nesting in wood. Some famous species are the Black-headed sugar ant and the Australian honey-pot ant, which store liquid food in their bodies.

Cardiocondyla

These are small ants, often found in warm climates.

Carebara

This genus includes some very tiny ants, as well as species with different sizes of workers in the same colony.

Colobopsis

This genus includes the Southern rectangle plug ant and the interesting Colobopsis explodens, which can explode as a defense mechanism!

Colobostruma

This group of ants has a unique body shape, often with spines or bumps.

Crematogaster

These ants are known as valentine ants or cocktail ants because of their heart-shaped abdomens (the rear part of their body) that they can raise when disturbed.

Cryptopone

Cryptopone rotundiceps is one of the species in this genus.

Diacamma

These ants are sometimes called bladder ants. Diacamma australe is known as the Australian bladder ant.

Dilobocondyla

Dilobocondyla cataulacoidea is a species in this genus.

Discothyrea

These are small, often hidden ants.

Doleromyrma

This genus includes the Brown house ant, a common ant found in homes.

Dolichoderus

These ants are often called dolly ants or sharkfined dolly ants, known for their strong smell when crushed.

Echinopla

Echinopla australis and Echinopla turneri are species in this genus.

Ectomomyrmex

This genus includes Ectomomyrmex astutus and Ectomomyrmex ruficornis.

Epopostruma

These ants are known for their unique trap-jaw mandibles, which they use to catch prey.

Eurhopalothrix

This genus includes Eurhopalothrix australis.

Froggattella

Froggattella kirbii is known as the Common froglet ant.

Gnamptogenys

Gnamptogenys biroi is a species in this genus.

Heteroponera

This genus includes several species, many of which were described recently in 2011 and 2015.

Hypoponera

These are small, often pale ants that live in the soil or under logs.

Iridomyrmex

This is a very common and diverse group, including the famous Meat ant (Iridomyrmex purpureus). They are known for their large, active colonies and sometimes for their metallic sheen.

Iroponera

Iroponera odax is a species in this genus.

Leptanilla

Only one species, Leptanilla swani, is known from Australia in this genus of tiny, often blind, ants.

Leptogenys

These ants are often called killer ants or genial killer ants, known for hunting in groups.

Leptomyrmex

These are often called spider ants because of their long legs and slender bodies. The Red-headed spider ant (Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus) is a well-known example.

Linepithema

Linepithema humile, the Argentine ant, is an introduced species that can be very invasive.

Lioponera

These ants are sometimes called cannibal ants, like the Little cannibal ant or the Carinate cannibal ant.

Lordomyrma

This genus includes Lordomyrma leae and Lordomyrma punctiventris.

Mayriella

These are small ants, often found in dry areas.

Melophorus

These ants are often called furnace ants or harvester furnace ants. They are well adapted to hot, dry environments.

Meranoplus

These ants are known as shield ants or turtle ants because of their tough, armored bodies.

Mesoponera

This genus includes Mesoponera australis and Mesoponera rubra.

Mesostruma

These ants also have unique trap-jaw mandibles.

Metapone

This genus includes several species, some of which were described recently in 2016.

Monomorium

This is a very large and diverse genus, including common household pests like the Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis) and the Little black mono ant.

Myopias

This genus includes Myopias chapmani and Myopias tasmaniensis.

Myopopone

Myopopone castanea is a species in this genus.

Myrmecia

These are the famous bulldog ants or bull ants, known for their large size, powerful stings, and excellent eyesight. The Giant red bull ant (Myrmecia gulosa) and the Jack jumper ant (Myrmecia pilosula) are well-known examples.

Myrmecina

This genus includes several species, many described in 2009.

Myrmecorhynchus

This genus includes Myrmecorhynchus carteri and Myrmecorhynchus emeryi.

Mystrium

Mystrium camillae is a species in this genus.

Nebothriomyrmex

Nebothriomyrmex majeri is a species in this genus.

Nothomyrmecia

This genus contains only one species, Nothomyrmecia macrops, famously known as the Dinosaur ant. It's considered a "living fossil" because it has features similar to very ancient ants.

Notoncus

These ants are sometimes called epaulet ants.

Notostigma

This genus includes Notostigma carazzii and Notostigma foreli.

Nylanderia

These ants are sometimes called parrot ants, like the Swamp parrot ant or the Forest parrot ant.

Ochetellus

This genus includes the Black house ant (Ochetellus glaber), a common ant found around homes.

Odontomachus

These are also known as snappy ants or trap-jaw ants, famous for their incredibly fast jaw movements.

Oecophylla

Oecophylla smaragdina is the Green tree ant, known for building nests by weaving leaves together using silk produced by their larvae.

Onychomyrmex

This genus includes Onychomyrmex doddi and Onychomyrmex hedleyi.

Ooceraea

Ooceraea australis is known as the Blind cannibal ant.

Opisthopsis

These ants are called strobe ants because of their large eyes and quick, jerky movements.

Orectognathus

These ants are also known for their unique trap-jaw mandibles.

Papyrius

This genus includes the Red cocktail ant (Papyrius nitidus).

Paraparatrechina

This genus includes Paraparatrechina minutula and Paraparatrechina nana.

Paratrechina

Paratrechina longicornis, the Hairy ant, is an introduced species in Australia.

Parvaponera

Parvaponera darwinii is a species in this genus.

Peronomyrmex

This genus includes Peronomyrmex bartoni and Peronomyrmex greavesi.

Pheidole

This is a very large group of ants, often called big-headed ants because some workers have very large heads. They include species like the Coastal brown ant (Pheidole megacephala) and harvester bigheaded ants.

Philidris

Philidris cordata is a species in this genus.

Plagiolepis

This genus includes several species, many described in 1934.

Platythyrea

These ants are sometimes called broadnosed killer ants.

Podomyrma

These ants are sometimes called muscleman ants.

Polyrhachis

These ants are known as spiny ants because many species have spines on their bodies. They are also called weaver ants, similar to Oecophylla, as some species also weave nests from leaves.

Ponera

These ants are sometimes called crypt ants or blind crypt ants.

Prionopelta

Prionopelta robynmae is a species in this genus.

Pristomyrmex

This genus includes several species, many described in the 1960s.

Probolomyrmex

This genus includes Probolomyrmex greavesi.

Proceratium

This genus includes several species, many described in 2003.

Prolasius

These ants are sometimes called mistral ants.

Pseudolasius

Pseudolasius australis is a species in this genus.

Pseudoneoponera

These ants are sometimes called foaming ants, like the Eared foaming ant or the Striped foaming ant.

Pseudonotoncus

This genus includes Pseudonotoncus eurysikos and Pseudonotoncus hirsutus.

Pseudoponera

This genus includes Pseudoponera pachynoda and Pseudoponera stigma.

Rhopalomastix

Rhopalomastix rothneyi is a species in this genus.

Rhopalothrix

Rhopalothrix orbis is a species in this genus.

Rhytidoponera

These ants are commonly known as pony ants or green-head ants (like Rhytidoponera metallica). They are known for their metallic colors and often for their painful stings.

Romblonella

Romblonella heatwolei is a species in this genus.

Solenopsis

This genus includes the well-known fire ants, such as the Tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata) and the highly invasive Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). They are known for their painful stings.

Stereomyrmex

Stereomyrmex anderseni is a species in this genus.

Stigmacros

This genus includes many species, many described in 1957.

Stigmatomma

This genus includes several species, many described in the 1920s and 1930s.

Strumigenys

These are tiny, often hidden ants with unique trap-jaw mandibles.

Syllophopsis

This genus includes Syllophopsis australica.

Tapinoma

This genus includes the Ghost ant (Tapinoma melanocephalum), a very small ant often found in houses.

Technomyrmex

This genus includes the White-footed ant (Technomyrmex albipes), another common household ant.

Teratomyrmex

This genus includes Teratomyrmex greavesi.

Tetramorium

These ants are sometimes called pennant ants, like the Guinea ant or the Royal pennant ant.

Tetraponera

These ants are often called tree-ants, like the Toothed black tree-ant or the Savanna black tree ant.

Trichomyrmex

Trichomyrmex destructor, the Singapore ant, is an introduced species in Australia.

Turneria

This genus includes Turneria bidentata and Turneria frenchi.

Vollenhovia

Vollenhovia oblonga is a species in this genus.

Vombisidris

This genus includes Vombisidris australis.

Wasmannia

Wasmannia auropunctata is another introduced species in Australia, sometimes called the little fire ant.

Zasphinctus

This genus includes many species, many described in the early 1900s.

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See also

• List of ant genera
• List of ant subfamilies