Workers vary from small minors to large majors of roughly 12–14 mm.
Fine-art photographic collection
Camponotus nigriceps
An Australian sugar ant with a dark head and a strong nocturnal presence.
About this species
Camponotus nigriceps(Smith, 1858)
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Camponotus nigriceps is a large Australian sugar ant. Colonies nest in soil and forage widely for honeydew, nectar and animal food across woodland and open habitats.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Hymenoptera · Formicidae · Camponotus
Source checked · checked 2026-07-15
AustraliaBroad documented localities — not a complete range map.
Broadly distributed in mainland Australia, especially temperate and drier regions.
Woodland, mallee, heath, grassland and disturbed ground.
Often most active from dusk through the night, particularly in hot weather.
Sugary secretions, nectar, carrion and arthropods.
Ground nests contain a queen and polymorphic workers, with large majors defending entrances and food.
What makes this species remarkable?
The contrasting dark head and lighter body make the species visually distinctive.
Workers can travel substantial distances from the nest to trees hosting sap-feeding insects.
The colony’s sugar-rich diet is supplemented with protein for larval growth.