Camponotus nigriceps
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
The black-headed sugar ant (Camponotus nigriceps), also known as the brown sugar ant, is a species of Formicinae ant endemic to Australia. Found throughout most states, the species is a member of the genus Camponotus, a cosmopolitan genus of ants commonly known as carpenter ants. It was formally described and named by British entomologist Frederick Smith in 1858. These ants are characterised by their black head, reddish-brown mesosoma and black gaster, which can change in colour.
The species is polymorphic: workers and soldiers measure 6 to 12 millimetres (0.24 to 0.47 in) and males are 12 millimetres (0.47 in). The queens are the largest members of the colony, measuring 16 millimetres (0.63 in). Colonies dwell in dry regions, including open areas or in dry sclerophyll woodland, where they nest in soil, large mounds or under stones. Nuptial flight occurs in summer and nests can hold several thousand individuals. Considered a household pest, black-headed sugar ants feed on sweet foods and insects and tend to butterfly larvae. Numerous birds and fish prey on these ants.
The black-headed sugar ant was described from a holotype worker by British entomologist Frederick Smith... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-Headed Sugar Ant sighting in Brisbane on a given day, based on 59 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 267th most-seen of the 1083 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April–September and December–February
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-Headed Sugar Ant in Brisbane on a given day, against under 5% in March and October–November, the lowest months.
Between 5 and 8 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-Headed Sugar Ant sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Black-Headed Sugar Ant sightings, Brisbane ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Sydney (Australia, about 10%).
Same genus: Camponotus
The closest relatives of the Black-Headed Sugar Ant that you can see in Brisbane (genus Camponotus, Carpenter Ants, Typical Sugar Ants and Allies) are Golden-Tailed Sugar Ant (about 20%) and Banded Sugar Ant (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black-Headed Sugar Ant is recorded against all the insects logged in Brisbane (59 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
