First time for everything - just today I had a minor worker black carpenter ant, that was running around on my hand, jump between my two fingers - about a 3/4 inch distance, horizontal leap. Jumping spider esque, real fast (and yes, I’m sure this was not an ant-mimic jumper!).
I can’t say I’ve ever in my life seen an ant jump, and would have been skeptical they were capable of it had I not just witnessed it.
Is this a normal happenstance or did I just toss back into the yard some very special ant who’s learned to push the boundaries of what is possible for ant-kind?
Myrmecia pilosula species complex are commonly referred to as Jack Jumpers for their ability and willingness to jump at a perceived aggressor. They have a very painful sting and huge jaws and it is a particular fear of mine to accidentally stumble on one of their difficult to see nests. I believe they’re the only ant species known to have killed a person.
As others have mentioned some ant species can jump, but in all my years of observing ants I have never seen a Black Carpenter Ant (or any ant, as I don’t live where the known jumping species are) do this. Do you know the scientific name of the ant? I’m wondering if there is a species people call a Black Carpenter Ant that is different from the one I am familiar with (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) I know C. modoc is also a Black Carpenter Ant, but that is so similar I doubt it jumps any more than C. pennsylvanicus.
Is it possible that it reached its front legs out, grabbed the finger in front of it with them, and then immediately removed its back legs from the finger in back and climbed on to the finger in front, rather than actually jumping? C. pennsylvanicus spend time in trees and are able to reach across short gaps to get from leaf to leaf, though I would be surprised if they could get across a full 3/4 in
Allergic sting reactions can occur with a variety of species, and can be life threatening. I know for a fact that fire ants in the genus Solenopsis have caused fatal allergic reactions, and I suspect most stinging species have at some point
Yes it was Camponotus pensylvanicus, and no, it definitely couldn’t have crossed the distance with legs outstretched. This was a minor worker and I don’t believe it even put its legs out to try, it just went for it.
Whoever took that photo is braver than me! (Or has a better zoom). Those ants are so aggro - when they are coming at you like that you want to be at least a metre away.
I’ve gotten braver and braver with photographing them (I took the photo. And was very close up) as I get to know their behaviour better. My only real fear is standing on their nests unknowingly. Photographing an individual far from its nest is actually very safe. They’re way more cautious of you in that situation.
Ok, well it just happened again. Same species (they come in the house full force every spring…). This time jumped from thumb to palm, about the same distance as before. Could actually feel the little spring when she launched. Been handling these guys for years and this has never happened, now twice in a week. Maybe my local Camponotus population is starting their own ‘orcas wearing fish hats’ trend…
