Camponotus gigas Latreille, 1802
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum/Division: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Genus: | Camponotus |
| Species: | C. gigas |
| Common Names: | Giant Forest Ant |
Description
Measuring 25–30 mm, Camponotus gigas is one of the world’s largest ant species.
Localities
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve
Locality Map
General Biology
They are active mostly at night although solitary worker ants can be found on the forest floor in the day. C. gigas builds its nests underground in the soil at tree bases or fallen wood. It forages in the forest canopy and has been observed to farm wax cicadas to harvest the honeydew secreted by them. The ant colonies are territorial and long-term fights or conflicts among colonies have been documented..
References
Holldobler, B. and E.O. Wilson 1990. The Ants. Belknap Press of the Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. 732 pp.
Woo, P.M.H., Y.W. Jong, T. Lim & W.K. Soo, 2011. Ants. Pp 225–227. In: Ng, P. K. L., R. T. Corlett & H. T. W. Tan (editors), Singapore Biodiversity. An Encyclopedia of the Natural Environment and Sustainable Development, Editions Didier Millet, Singapore, 552 pp.
