Ants that are larger than 10mm long

Occasionally some of the polymorphic [multi-sized] species, especially in the genus Camponotus, may include small individuals known as ‘minims’ which are smaller than 10mm in length

Ants can be from 9 to 14 mm depending upon location, but in the same nest they are all the same size; black with dense grey pubescence; erect white to pale yellow pilosity; erect hairs on antennae; prominent spines on petiole and pronotum: nest in silk-lined nests in grass or ground: Polyrhachis schistacea [Savannah spiny sugar ant], Formicinae

Ants in multiple sizes from about 4.5 mm to 11 mm; shiny jet-black or dark brown; form slow-moving trails carrying vegetable detritus to their nests; trails freeze if you thump the ground near them; a mound of detritus may form around the nest entrance: Messor capensis [Cape harvester ant], Myrmicinae

Large dark grey ants with pitted skin and golden hairs, about 12 mm long; slow moving, usually seen singly, live in small colonies of a few dozen individuals; prominent sting: Bothroponera pumicosa [Rugged ringbum ant], Ponerinae

Handsome large shiny-black ants with faint golden pubescent sheen and prominent sting; live in small underground colonies of a few dozen individuals: Hagensia peringueyi [Black hag ant], Ponerinae

Dark red to red-brown ants with black gasters covered by dense, yellow hairs; minor workers about 12 mm, majors large up to 18 mm, few intermediates; ants ‘see’ you if you wave a hand above them; widespread in arid areas; forage by day; quick moving: Camponotus fulvopilosus [Balbyter sugar ant], Formicinae

Dark red to red-brown ants with black gasters covered by dense, creamy hairs; minor workers about 12 mm, majors large up to 18 mm, a few intermediates; ants ‘see’ you if you wave a hand above them; widespread in arid areas; forage by day; quick moving: Camponotus storeatus [White balbyter sugar ant], Formicinae

Large ants in a variety of colours from pale yellow to dark brown, usually with spots of  a contrasting colour on the gaster; ants are large, minor workers up to 10-11 mm, majors up to 18 mm, few intermediates; nocturnal ants, nest under stones and in the ground and usually only seen by chance: Camponotus maculatus [Spotted sugar ants], Formicinae

Very large ants, the workers vary in size from 16mm to a whopping 24mm. As the common name implies their favourite food is millipedes, but they also prey upon beetles and termites. They hunt singly or in pairs from small colonies of up to 50 individuals. They nest deep underground, at about 60cm, with a heap of soil at the nest entrance. Plectrotena mandibularis [Ringbum millipede muncher]; Ponerinae