Ants of Singapore #05 - Camponotus (gigas)

Camponotus

Species accounts

Camponotus gigas

Camponotus gigas Latreille, 1802, the Giant Forest Ant in Singapore

The ant above, is none other than the famous Giant Forest Ant (Camponotus gigas), one of the largest species of ants possibly in the world. The Camponotus genus ("Carpenter Ants"), is also a hyperdiverse genus, meaning that there are many species within the genera. Fortunately, these Giant Forest Ants are easily distinguished from the other Camponotus species by their (large) size and red gaster.

They are polymorphic and have majors which are generally larger with a head which is more heart-shaped rather than ovate. They are said to have intraspecific territorial fights at night. They also nest in the base of trees.

Generally though, these ants are docile and they cannot sting (they have no stinging apparatus). It is personally therapeutic to look at them forage ;)

[As a side note, there are many other Camponotus species in Singapore, but am likely to be highlighting only this one for now. It would be interesting to study the temporal niche differentiation for certain species, because some are observed in the night, while others are observed foraging in the day.]

Giant Forest Ant Camponotus gigas female alate in Singapore.

C. gigas worker, found at Kubah National Park, Sarawak with slight variation in the legs (yellow) as compared to the ones in Singapore.