Bug FAQJack Jumper Ant
Myrmecia pilosula · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae
Also called: Black Jumper Ant, Jack Jumper
Source: Wikipedia
Jack jumper ants are large, black or black-reddish ants with yellow or orange legs, antennae and mandibles. They are active during the day in open bushland, woodlands and dry forests of Tasmania and southeast mainland Australia. Workers live over a year, can reproduce without a queen, and their sting usually causes only a mild reaction, though it can trigger severe allergies.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
They may be black or blackish-red and often have yellow or orange legs, antennae, tibiae, tarsi and mandibles.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Workers are 12 to 14 mm long, males 11 to 12 mm, and queens 14 to 16 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Control measures such as bendiocarb, chlorpyrifos, diazinon and permethrin can reduce their numbers around homes.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
Their sting usually causes a mild local reaction, but it is one of the few ant stings that can be dangerous to people with allergies.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
Applying chemicals such as bendiocarb, chlorpyrifos, diazinon or permethrin, or spraying Solfac into nests, is effective for controlling nearby colonies.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They are daytime hunters that live in open bushland, woodlands and dry forests with gravelly or sandy soil.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They hunt small insects, using their sight and rapid head movements to locate prey.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Workers can live more than a year and are capable of reproducing with males even if a queen is absent.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Jack jumper ants are primarily active during daylight hours.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The jack jumper ant is native to Australia, especially Tasmania and the southeastern mainland.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Like other Myrmecia ants, they have a powerful sting and large mandibles, and are medium-sized compared with other species in the genus.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I get rid of jack jumper ants?
Use insecticides like bendiocarb, chlorpyrifos, diazinon or permethrin, or spray Solfac directly into the nest.
Source: Wikipedia
Do jack jumper ants sting?
Yes, their sting usually causes only a mild local reaction, but it can be dangerous for people with ant allergies.
Source: Wikipedia
Where are jack jumper ants found?
They are native to Australia, especially Tasmania and the southeastern mainland, living in open bushland and dry forests.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Formicidae)
Eastern Black Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusCan damage your home
Red Imported Fire AntSolenopsis invictaCan sting
American Winter AntPrenolepis imparis
Argentine AntLinepithema humileNuisance, not dangerous
Immigrant Pavement AntTetramorium immigransCan sting
Odorous House AntTapinoma sessileCan damage your homeSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_jumper_ant
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.