Sugar Ant
Scientific name: Camponotus consobrinus
Click to enlarge image
Sugar Ant, Camponotus consobrinus from the Royal National Park
Image: Andrew Donnelly
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Camponotus
- Species
- consobrinus
- Subfamily
- Formicinae
- Family
- Formicidae
- Super Family
- Vespoidea
- Suborder
- Apocrita
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 5 mm - 15 mm
Sugar Ants are relatively large ants with an orange-brown middle and black head and abdomen.
Habitat
Sugar ants live in urban areas, forests and woodlands, and heath.
Distribution
Sugar Ants are found throughout Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
Feeding and diet
The Sugar Ant's name comes from a liking for sugar, but they are attracted to any sweet food. They are omnivores and can be seen foraging under street or house lights during the summer months. They also collect nectar and other secretions from plants, as well as honeydew from aphids and other plant-eating invertebrates such as caterpillars.
Other behaviours and adaptations
Sugar Ants tend aphids much like farmers tend their stock, moving them around and protecting them from predators.
