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)

Notoncus gilberti, commonly known as the Smooth Epaulet Ant, of genera Notoncus, are a group of ants that nest in the soil or on the ground. Fond in forested areas, gardens and parks, under stones and logs.

Pictured here are the Notoncus gilberti ants feeding on a deceased Temognatha suturalis (jewel beetle).

Notoncus gilberti, South Ulladulla NSW © Phil Warburton
Notoncus gilberti, South Ulladulla NSW © Phil Warburton
Notoncus gilberti feeding on Temognatha suturalis, South Ulladulla NSW © Phil Warburton
Notoncus gilberti feeding on Temognatha suturalis, South Ulladulla NSW © Phil Warburton
Notoncus gilberti, South Ulladulla NSW © Phil Warburton
Notoncus gilberti, South Ulladulla NSW © Phil Warburton
Notoncus gilberti feeding on Temognatha suturalis, South Ulladulla NSW © Phil Warburton
Notoncus gilberti feeding on Temognatha suturalis, South Ulladulla NSW © Phil Warburton


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Verspoidea
  • Family: Formicidae
  • Subfamily: Formicinae
  • Tribe: Melophorini
  • Genus: Notoncus
  • Species: Notoncus gilberti

Footnote & References

  1. Notoncus gilberti, Photographs © Tony Eales
  2. Notoncus gilberti Forel, 1895, Smooth Epaulet Ant, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Notoncus gilberti
  3. Notoncus gilberti, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/967271-Notoncus-gilberti

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