Green head ant (Rhytidoponera metallica)

Pest Snapshot - Green Head Ant

Scientific name: Rhytidoponera metallica
Identification: Unique black ant, with green to purple iridescent sheen. Size: 5.0 – 7.0 mm.
Health threat: Medium
Bite / sting pain: Painful, itchy sting
Difficulty to control: Easy
Diet: Protein (other invertebrates)
Nest locations: Lawns and gardens
Colony structure: Multiple queens, single nest
Main pest season: Summer / Autumn
Indoor/Outdoor pest: Outdoors (lawn)

Green head ant information

Typical nest location:

Green-head ants live in forests and urban areas, where it nests in lawns and under pavers, rocks and logs.

A multi-queen, single nest species. The workers are gamerates which mean they can mate with male reproductives. Although there is a mating flight in spring, new nests can also be established through budding, where a female reproductive and workers move away to set up a new nest. Although a single nest species, large nests may have more than one opening.

Identification:

Colour: Black with green to purple iridescent sheen
Size: 5.0 – 7.0 mm
Nodes on petiole: 1 (obvious ‘square’ shape)

Their size and colour makes identification straight forward.

Food preferences:

Green-head ants are primarily protein feeders targeting live and dead invertebrates. However, they are notable seed harvesters collecting seeds for food. Their habit for collecting and hoarding seeds plays a significant role in seed dispersal. They will also tend sap feeding insects

Distinguishing features / behaviours:

In significant infestations, nests can be located every 5-10 m in lawns
Green-head ants like to forage in sunshine and will often return to the nest under cloudy conditions.
However, they will forage in light showers (unlike other ant species) as long as the sun is also out.
Queens look very similar to the workers and will go out foraging.

Bite / sting:

Has a painful sting which can cause anaphylactic shock, which may require emergency medical treatment. The bite can itch for many days afterwards.

Prevention tips:

There are no management techniques that can be used to reduce green-head ant numbers other than carrying out a pest control treatment to effected areas.

Other comments:

Green-head ants are one of the first insects to appear once bushfires have move through an area.
Although the name sounds similar, they are a very different ant to the “green ant” or green tree ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) found in tropical areas of Queensland and the Northern Territory.

How to get rid of green head ants

Pest managers can treat green-head ants very effectively with granular baits. They have access to a range of professional ant baits – they will readily take both corn grit and protein based granular bait. Assuming sufficient bait is applied, colony control will take 1-2 weeks.

There is not much homeowners can do to prevent green-head ants entering the yard from neighbouring areas. It is generally a question of monitoring for activity and treat if required.

Green head ants FAQ

Do green head ants bite or sting?

Green-head ants don’t bite but have a painful sting. Although they will often “bite” to get purchase to inject their sting (from their abdomen).

The pain from the sting generally only lasts several minutes, but can remain itchy for several days. There is the potential for allergic reactions to the sting.

Green-head ants are aggressive ants are will readily crawl onto your body if you’re in their way and sting multiple times.

Are green head ants poisonous?

Poisonous is really the wrong word (as it refers to a toxin that is ingested, inhaled or absorbed). However, it is correct to say that green-head ants are venomous as they inject a toxin through their stinger.

Their sting is mildly toxic causing mild paid and itching, but can cause serious allergic reactions in some people.

Are the green head ant and green tree ant the same?

No, these are two different ants. The green head ant is found across most of Australia, whereas the green tree ant is only found in the tropical north.

There is no “green ant” in Australia, although some people will use the term “green ant” to describe either the green-head ant or green tree ant, depending on which ant is dominant in their area.