Workers commonly reach 20–30 millimetres; queens can be even larger.
Fine-art photographic collection
Myrmecia brevinoda
One of the world’s largest ants, living in immense mound colonies.
About this species
Giant bull ant
Myrmecia brevinodaForel, 1910
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Myrmecia brevinoda is a giant Australian bull ant and one of the largest living ant species. Unlike many other Myrmecia, it can form very large colonies in substantial soil mounds with numerous entrances.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Hymenoptera · Formicidae · Myrmeciinae · Myrmeciini · Myrmecia
Source checked · checked 2026-07-15
Eastern AustraliaBroad documented localities — not a complete range map.
Eastern and southeastern Australia.
Open forest, woodland, grassland edge and well-drained ground suitable for large nests.
Visual foragers hunt individually, mainly during daylight and mild conditions.
Live arthropod prey, nectar and plant liquids.
Large soil nests that may contain thousands of workers, exceptional for the genus.
What makes this species remarkable?
It ranks among the largest ants alive today.
Some nests develop into conspicuous mounds with many openings.
Workers hunt by sight and possess a powerful defensive sting.
Sources and scientific references
More photographs
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