The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

African Stink Ant

Afrikaans name:

Photo © Steven Herbert

Plectroctena mandibularis

With a body length of 2 cm the workers of the African Stink Ant are rather large. The 'stink' part of their name refers to the smell produced by colonies of bacteria that live in their head capsules. This smell may be used as a defense mechanism.

This ant either catches its food or finds its food by scavenging. They catch and eat termites, beetles and millipedes.

Small colonies of the African Stink Ant make their home in deep burrows.

They are found over the eastern and north-eastern regions of South Africa.

This species is also referred to as the Ringbum Millipede Muncher.

Top

References and further reading