FormicidaeFormicidae Index Ants More Ants in Australia Caste Systems, Colonies and Anthills Invasive Ants in Australia Camponotus Ants Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Camponotus innexus (Antarctic Sugar Ant) Chelaner kiliani (Mono Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Dolichoderus scabridus Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Melophorus bagoti Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia gulosa (Red Bull Ant) Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia mandibularis Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Myrmecia tarsata (Australian Jumper Ant) Notoncus gilberti Notoncus spinisquamis Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant) Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Polyrhachis Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)

Exotic invasive ants are a group of ants species that have entered Australia, often via importation of goods, packaging, or conveyances that are infested with ants. These ants may have come from any part of the world including Africa, Asia, Central America, North America, Caribbean, South America, Europe and Oceania. The issues with these invasive ant species being they are aggressive, spread quickly, disrupt the environment in Australia, including the wildlife and cause problems for humans.1

The term “exotic invasive ants” and “invasive ants” is often used interchangeably, whilst some sources describe exotic invasive ants as ant species that come from outside of Australia. Exotic invasive species often arrive in Australia as hitchhikers, usually relying on people and spread by freight such as the movement of machinery, equipment or other goods.

Of course invasive ants can be native Australian ants that have been transported outside their usually habitat and range, with some species appearing on the other side of the Australian continent.


There is a great deal of concern in Australia about the invasive fire ants that are threatening regions in Queensland and beyond and the threat has received widespread media coverage. The Red Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta, is one of the most invasive pest species in the world. It reproduces rapidly, has dietary flexibility, readily out-competes local species and has benefited from human mediated transport to new locations where there are few natural predators. This South American ant species has invaded North America, Europe, several Asian countries, and Australia. It is a voracious and aggressive predator, that kills or displaces most animals near its nest site. It builds nests in a wide variety of environments, including human housing where it can damage the fabric of the building and the electrical systems. As well as being a significant economic threat, it is also a medical threat. In areas significantly affected by the ant, about 50% of the human population receive stings each year. About 3% of humans are allergic to its sting and may require hospital treatment once bitten. There have been multiple fatalities in some areas that it has invaded, including the USA.1

Source: Invasive Fire Ants in Australia by Phil Warburton (see the document in references)
Invasive Fire Ants in Australia (Solenopsis invicta) by Phil Warburton

Check out the current listing of Invasive Ants (from CSIRO)


The exotic invasive ants are not the only ones that may cause problems for people, Australia have their own local ants that may appear where they are not wanted. An example is the Myrmecia pilosula species complex, that is know to sting and can cause a mild local reaction in humans. However, along with other ants in the genus Myrmecia, their ant venom is particularly immunogenic, causing a high percentage of ant allergies, that for some people who are allergic, can suffer anaphylactic reactions (increased heart rate, falling blood pressure, and other symptoms), which on rare occasions can lead to death.

Jack Jumper Ant (Myrmecia pilosula), Crafers - Bridgewater SA © Marianne Broug
Jack Jumper Ant (Myrmecia pilosula), Crafers – Bridgewater SA © Marianne Broug

Myrmecia pyriformis is one of Australia’s larger aggressive ant species, that is commonly known as Black Bull-ant, Bull Ant, Brown Bulldog Ant and Inch Ant.

Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant), Acton ACT © Tony Eales
Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant), Acton ACT © Tony Eales
Invasive Ants Listing

At this point in time (22 January 2025) researching for this article, CSIRO list the six most serious invasive ant species that are present in Australia as:2

  • Yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes)
  • Tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata)
  • African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala)
  • Singapore ant (Monomorium destructor)
  • Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)
  • Argentine ant (Linepithema humile)

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Vespoidea
  • Family: Formicidae

Yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes)
  • Subfamily: Formicinae
  • Tribe: Plagiolepidini
  • Genus: Anoplolepis
  • Species: Anoplolepis gracilipes

Tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata)
  • Subfamily: Myrmicinae
  • Tribe: Solenopsidini
  • Genus: Solenopsis
  • Species: Solenopsis geminata

African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala)
  • Subfamily: Myrmicinae
  • Tribe: Attini
  • Genus: Pheidole
  • Species: Pheidole megacephala

Singapore ant (Monomorium destructor)
  • Subfamily: Myrmicinae
  • Tribe: Solenopsidini
  • Genus: Monomorium
  • Species: Monomorium destructor

Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)
  • Subfamily: Myrmicinae
  • Tribe: Solenopsidini
  • Genus: Solenopsis
  • Species: Solenopsis invicta

Argentine ant (Linepithema humile)
  • Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
  • Tribe: Leptomyrmecini
  • Genus: Linepithema
  • Species: Linepithema humile

Footnote & References

  1. Invasive Fire Ants in Australia by Phil Warburton (click the link to view the PDF document)
  2. Exotic invasive ants, Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/plant/identify/exotic-invasive-ants
  3. Invasive ants pose a threat, CSIRO, https://www.csiro.au/en/research/animals/pests/invasive-ants-pose-a-threat
  4. Anoplolepis gracilipes (Smith, 1857), Yellow Crazy Ant, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Anoplolepis gracilipes
  5. Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius, 1804), Fire Ant, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Solenopsis geminata
  6. Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius, 1793), African Big-Headed Ant, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Pheidole%20megacephala
  7. Monomorium destructor (Jerdon, 1851), Destructive Trailing Ant, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Monomorium destructor
  8. Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972, Red Imported Fire Ant, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Solenopsis invicta
  9. Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868), Argentine Ant, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Linepithema humile

FormicidaeFormicidae Index Ants More Ants in Australia Caste Systems, Colonies and Anthills Invasive Ants in Australia Camponotus Ants Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Camponotus innexus (Antarctic Sugar Ant) Chelaner kiliani (Mono Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Dolichoderus scabridus Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Melophorus bagoti Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia gulosa (Red Bull Ant) Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia mandibularis Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Myrmecia tarsata (Australian Jumper Ant) Notoncus gilberti Notoncus spinisquamis Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant) Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Polyrhachis Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub