Includes species where the smallest individuals are usually at least 5mm long [smaller individuals are possible, especially in younger colonies], and less than 10mm long
[in species that have mixed sizes the larger ants may exceed 10mm]
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLh1PI38MtCapYxF7Ol0He2FyX9PSjtrYArzrrcNVpIcQd1BIhHB0x-gLGHy61shhZlMZgkgptBg8LhxVia2OPKBwERRWynAmLhCpqm6Nd3r4CcLJFr9bpsnfdBLYurifrpndBLHa17Hz_/s1600/0+15a+k+l+pugnacious+A+s+.jpg) |
Ants in multiple sizes from 2.5 mm to 6 mm; extremely active and aggressive; attack on touch; red-brown to dark-brown, almost black; large nests in ground; swarm towards you if you thump the ground: Anoplolepis steingroeveri [Small pugnacious ant], Formicinae |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijymlC_J5vVdR_gBoIKkutecIxN4OUXv89PAsMegBFiFb_HUeXLU22I9LzLiPcfsKe4ywhse58wNvrq7cOctltoCRg6Z8sIdtCp1eyqJ9nBzhsG-n3U96_dzq8zr9ZWRG0TZcEHNanxCc8/s1600/0+15b+k+lecto+inter.jpg) |
All ants same size, >5 mm; shiny jet black with reddish tipped gaster and paler leg joints; very slender, fast-moving and aggressive and equipped with stings: Leptogenys intermedia [Common razor-jaw ant], Ponerinae |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qOhHTebeP3jygAm0jdSgiduRr0HnTnJq5b2KVR4MTzD3yw-nFKAcr3ed_yPCD8OgLQUUNeEJmaQUCGH8XJ6Xf9ReR0N91TcVxRK4a9DDp6s9hME6Y92gKtVTRYQEleDjf0StMPMIsN0E/s1600/0+0+k+camp+werthi.jpg) |
Minor workers about 5 mm, majors with broader heads about 6–7.5 mm, mostly jet black all over; small colonies nesting in the ground, in wood or hollow stems; diurnal and common especially in fynbos: Camponotus werthi [Black sugar ant], Formicinae |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8350lsSXf7zTHHyWu2lMuIgz2LJwXmCT9acOMx-JnjSnuVWeiT8P3JTfFZNYBgKQoCz9QPEW81ExTcqQwlHTuZNflB6x5uqnmLU0HJbUg1zb2pnakWZ38DaaKFKrO4kTmLo_6ZjHjcFnU/s1600/0+17b+k+camp+niveo.jpg) |
Minor workers about 5 mm, majors with broader heads up to 8 mm, black or dark grey with stiff white bristles on gaster; small colonies nesting in the ground; diurnal and common especially in fynbos: Camponotus niveosetosus [Hairy sugar ant], Formicinae. This is the only South African Formicine ant that builds earthen/detritus nests in tussocks in wet habitats
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAb6lKm0w1S68Tlfr9ypZySFgi76EGybMdUZRYKsCbv7gkBGaa7GioewShuFs9FnetF7I-2AFHH8ikmDjEcpxYtbyM_x9nvMiR3FUoFZJt1Sq1AUkLWoh78110VmDPLThL66gUdNXlr-Y/s1600/0+18a+k+camp+berto.jpg) |
Minor workers about 5 mm, majors with broader heads about 7+ mm, shiny chocolate brown with paler legs; small colonies nesting in wood, nocturnal and seldom seen: Camponotus bertolonii [Brown sugar ant], Formicinae |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbB8u8JdmPYbrcRo9xlQhW9oFeGHRrYZ5crdqN3JwQKPDNvwiC-EAxAIQiMnziKHdIgMBT6bnJCJtnmteR8nb75ta_GLlKuyBque67uNeWmp31KGZ_0TJ-or-8aYYH17C7FqdlgWHQv-W/s1600/0++0+19a+k+drop+tail+ant.jpg) |
Ants about 5+ mm, jet black with distinctive, downward-hanging gasters; slow moving; nests may have a mound of detritus around entrance: Myrmicaria nigra [Drop-tail ant] Myrmicinae
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YSyyOHZxKGWXa__s1Ge95IG4QuoaN0prjld3AIDI1MsOk2brek65oZa_bhTaDJftJ-pW7L5gtN11bMbKl98X2IycwH5yvbHmv7L94L-fVurK0QvDM6H_EFzEntcMXssCnsHP61lJIGeP/s1600/0+20a+k+hotrod+ocymyrmex.jpg) |
Ants about 7-8 mm, reddish brown to black; long-legged and run around in hot weather at extremely high speeds; have a 'basket' of bristles under their heads which they use to move stones excavated from their nests: Ocymyrmex barbiger [Hotrod ant], Myrmicinae |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTPWvJZT5vyZMDPrNtw1w1HpMKAttbFQEO-81uaOAqYpm2-utZp_42PP44xbWqCfXgrFjzwoTGNYVXvxMvJbIWGNZHo0n6eLvf2AnGSVgoCZFyN4ZsuB9aXHDMCy1Y6DO2meIJFrGi8Z-/s1600/0+21a+k+a+gracilipes.jpg) |
Long legged yellow ants about 7mm that run around randomly at high speed and in large numbers; may be encountered in or near harbours; fiercely destructive of all small animals they may encounter: Anoplolepis gracilipes [Yellow crazy ant]; Formicinae : INVADER |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOfEm3xvwUlsoWnIwTcBAZBZv_iVdRH2H99zAuCItVS75dYe07PdX5mH8jYhv3WCuSKTPgEHHh9gFBfnENlzDRjlnAuzvgRqXWDvwSvEV_NXMndPUJtHUilKjvqozgN9-uHOzJc1HJZ2-/s1600/0+22a+k+pugnacious+A+c.jpg) |
Ants in multiple sizes from 4.55 mm to 7+ mm; red-brown to dark-brown with silvery refractive hairs forming a chequered pattern on their gasters; extremely active and aggressive; attack on touch; large nests in ground; swarm towards you if you thump the ground: Anoplolepis custodiens [Large pugnacious ant], Formicinae |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-Khcx97OmudAk7PKx63slqPNf1y05n2o2pvIBW9AYl0uFkc1frLj5K8LQnNzIY3YkVNrlP8veELWe3XWdDw8s6eEWKvz2VZlPMxXDfvuBhdNP_ckBTpHHe6ka-TUAW25_FOkR0hoyye5/s1600/0+24a+k+dorylus+big.jpg) |
Ants in multiple sizes from 2 mm to 8 mm; red to range-red and all blind [no eyes]; form dense nomadic columns that swarm through gardens and fields by night or in dull weather; fiercely aggressive and attack on contact: Dorylus helvolus [Red driver ant], Dorylinae
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr9IN-oVAhUaQDb3hLYMjjClHGJuR8Ay9tVEz4rvN-zBvuc-kXqcYTG91Hn5Z7GX-ON6EvFu7O8x60JVX-9nRaSo2qqmFAA0TuQ_zGQrkbzG4Dp_5XDfdE_a-HiFNIYD7md234YKrAWhS/s1600/0+0+23+k+f+polyrhachis+schlueteri.jpg) |
Ants are 8.5 to 9 mm, and although the body colour is black they are covered in a dense, silvery-white pubescence, giving them an overall silver appearance; no pilosity on antennae. Prominent spines on petiole and downward-curving spines on pronotum; nesting habits not known: Polyrhachis schlueteri [Silver spiny sugar ant]; Formicinae |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cr7DFqytOvBvW7k4gZzqxzheeJyE6gM2TJU6sG9_q3DmzzINm9IqK8NnEYBEeVl6zTGGmQT0A4RG58xwREIk2o84hE7_yVwpZ_YyZJIrDUXe8_w-OQ1-QWiph-7KWuMDWFtmnn9QdeA0/s1600/0+0+24+k+f+polyrhachis+schistacea+1.jpg) |
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 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAQ4PauKWVYQd6SJyHUYISa10ex_uLr-GqT692dRaQ1F9n_fALyl-Uam2Fjbux9sBcH1xAZX62_4vGjNCDKY_dvy9C_sL3pzQD8LeqDYIGI3fT-rkEodiIdsdV-iUGHydiQP3N3602rwd/s1600/0+0+26+k+harvester+messor.jpg) |
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 |
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