FormicidaeAnts Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Notoncus spinisquamis Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)

Myrmecia nigrocincta, commonly known as the Jumping Jack Ant or Jumper Ant, belong to the genus Myrmecia, a group of ants that are generally referred to as Bulldog Ants.

A common large ant in eastern region of Australia, these ants are known for their ability to jump and have a venomous sting. They have a distinctive pattern of orange-red and black that distinguishes them from other species of Myrmecia. The workers can grow to over 15 mm in length.

Jumping Jack Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Jumping Jack Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

Myrmecia nigrocincta are know to prefer foraging in trees, where they are also known to pollinate certain flowers.

Jumping Jack Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Jumping Jack Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

More information on Myrmecia nigrocincta on:

Jumper Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta), Stony Range Botanic Garden NSW
Jumper Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta), Stony Range Botanic Garden NSW
Jumper Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta), Stony Range Botanic Garden NSW
Jumper Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta), Stony Range Botanic Garden NSW

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Verspoidea
  • Family: Formicidae
  • Subfamily: Myrmeciinae
  • Tribe: Myrmeciini
  • Genus: Myrmecia
  • Species: Myrmecia nigrocincta

Footnote & References

  1. Jumping Jack Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta), Photographs © Stefan Jones
  2. Myrmecia nigrocincta Smith, 1858, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/143ffbc7-24e0-4949-ad83-2ea748aa971f

FormicidaeAnts Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Notoncus spinisquamis Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)

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