Common Names

Only a handful of ants have widely used common names. Also, there is no "official" list of common names for ants, and while many names have been proposed over the years, most are no where near "commonly used". The names listed here are those that have been widely accepted and published across numerous sources, both taxonomic and biological.

Explore Common Names Data: All, Drilldown

Taxon	Subfamily	Name	Translation	Language	Notes	Source
Acropyga kinomurai	Formicinae	Hirase-yotsuba-ari		Japanese
Acropyga nipponensis	Formicinae	Itsutsuba-ari		Japanese
Acropyga sauteri	Formicinae	Mitsuba-ari		Japanese
Acropyga yaeyamensis	Formicinae	Yotsuba-ari		Japanese
Aenictus ceylonicus	Dorylinae	Chairo-himesasurai-ari		Japanese
Aenictus lifuiae	Dorylinae	Hime-sasurai-ari		Japanese
Anochetus shohki	Ponerinae	Hime-agito-ari		Japanese
Anoplolepis gracilipes	Formicinae	Yellow crazy ant		English
Aphaenogaster concolor	Myrmicinae	Ryuukyuu-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster donann	Myrmicinae	Kuromi-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster edentula	Myrmicinae	Togenashi-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster erabu	Myrmicinae	Erabusi-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster famelica	Myrmicinae	Ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster gracillima	Myrmicinae	Kubinaga-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster irrigua	Myrmicinae	Sawa-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster japonica	Myrmicinae	Yamato-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster kumejimana	Myrmicinae	Kumezima-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster lepida	Myrmicinae	빨간장다리개미	BBal-Gan-Jang-Da-Ri-Gaemi	Korean
Aphaenogaster luteipes	Myrmicinae	Ikubi-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster minutula	Myrmicinae	Hime-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster osimenseis	Myrmicinae	Iso-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster rugulosa	Myrmicinae	Yonaguni-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster tipuna	Myrmicinae	Takasago-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Aphaenogaster tokarainsulana	Myrmicinae	Tokara-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Atta texana	Myrmicinae	Texas Leafcutting Ant		English
Brachyponera chinensis	Ponerinae	Asian Needle Ant		English
Brachyponera luteipes	Ponerinae	Tsuya-oo-hari-ari		Japanese
Camponotus albosparsus	Formicinae	Aka-yotsuboshi-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus amamianus	Formicinae	Tsuya-mikado-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus bishamon	Formicinae	Hoso-umematsu-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus chromaiodes	Formicinae	Red Carpenter Ant		English
Camponotus daitoensis	Formicinae	Daitou-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus devestivus	Formicinae	Ameiro-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus floridanus	Formicinae	Florida Carpenter Ant		English
Camponotus hemichlaena	Formicinae	Nishi-muneaka-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus herculeanus	Formicinae	Karafuto-kuro-oo-ari		Japanese	as ''Camponotus sachalinensis''
Camponotus itoi	Formicinae	Itou-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus japonicus	Formicinae	Kuro-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus kaguya	Formicinae	Yumise-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus keihitoi	Formicinae	Kusa-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus kiusiuensis	Formicinae	Mikado-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus monju	Formicinae	Kebuka-ameiro-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus nawai	Formicinae	Nawa-yotsuboshi-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus nipponensis	Formicinae	Kebuka-tsuya-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus obscuripes	Formicinae	Muneaka-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus ogasawarensis	Formicinae	Ogasawara-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus pennsylvanicus	Formicinae	Black Carpenter Ant		English
Camponotus quadrinotatus	Formicinae	Yotsuboshi-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus variegatus	Formicinae	Hawaiian Carpenter Ant		English
Camponotus vitiosus	Formicinae	Umematsu-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus yamaokai	Formicinae	Yama-yotsuboshi-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus yambaru	Formicinae	Usuki-oo-ari		Japanese
Camponotus yessensis	Formicinae	Kebuka-kuro-oo-ari		Japanese
Cardiocondyla kagutsuchi	Myrmicinae	Hiyake-hadaka-ari		Japanese
Cardiocondyla minutior	Myrmicinae	Hime-hadaka-ari		Japanese	as ''Cardiocondyla tsukuyomi''
Cardiocondyla nuda	Myrmicinae	Hadaka-ari		Japanese
Cardiocondyla wroughtonii	Myrmicinae	Kiiro-hadaka-ari		Japanese
Carebara borealis	Myrmicinae	Oo-kotsuno-ari		Japanese
Carebara diversa	Myrmicinae	Yokozuna-ari		Japanese
Carebara hannya	Myrmicinae	Hime-kotsuno-ari		Japanese
Carebara oni	Myrmicinae	Oni-kotsuno-ari		Japanese
Carebara sauteri	Myrmicinae	Taiwan-kotsuno-ari		Japanese
Carebara yamatonis	Myrmicinae	Kotsuno-ari		Japanese
Colobopsis nipponica	Formicinae	Hirazu-oo-ari		Japanese
Crematogaster matsumurai	Myrmicinae	Haributo-shiriage-ari		Japanese
Crematogaster nawai	Myrmicinae	Tsuya-shiriage-ari		Japanese
Crematogaster osakensis	Myrmicinae	Kiiro-shiriage-ari		Japanese
Crematogaster suehiro	Myrmicinae	Suehiro-shiriage-ari		Japanese
Crematogaster teranishii	Myrmicinae	Teranishi-shiriage-ari		Japanese
Crematogaster vagula	Myrmicinae	Kubomi-shiriage-ari		Japanese
Cryptopone sauteri	Ponerinae	Togezune-hari-ari		Japanese
Cryptopone tengu	Ponerinae	Hanadaka-hari-ari		Japanese
Discothyrea sauteri	Proceratiinae	Daruma-ari		Japanese
Dolichoderus sibiricus	Dolichoderinae	Shiberia-kata-ari		Japanese
Dorymyrmex insanus	Dolichoderinae	Pyramid Ant		English
Ectomomyrmex javanus	Ponerinae	Tsushima-hari-ari		Japanese
Erromyrma latinodis	Myrmicinae	Shiwa-hime-ari		Japanese
Euponera pilosior	Ponerinae	Kebuka-hari-ari		Japanese
Euponera sakishimensis	Ponerinae	Aka-kebuka-hari-ari		Japanese
Forelius pruinosus	Dolichoderinae	High Noon Ant		English
Formica candida	Formicinae	Tsuya-kuroyama-ari		Japanese
Formica exsectoides	Formicinae	Allegheny Mound Ant		English
Formica fukaii	Formicinae	Tsuno-akayama-ari		Japanese
Formica gagatoides	Formicinae	Takane-kuroyama-ari		Japanese
Formica hayashi	Formicinae	Hayashi-kuroyama-ari		Japanese
Formica japonica	Formicinae	Kuroyama-ari		Japanese
Formica lemani	Formicinae	Yama-kuroyama-ari		Japanese
Formica obscuripes	Formicinae	Western Thatching Ant		English
Formica sanguinea	Formicinae	Akayama-ari		Japanese
Formica truncorum	Formicinae	Kezune-akayama-ari		Japanese
Formica yessensis	Formicinae	Ezo-akayama-ari		Japanese
Hypoponera beppin	Ponerinae	Beppin-nise-hari-ari		Japanese
Hypoponera nippona	Ponerinae	Higenaga-nise-hari-ari		Japanese
Hypoponera nubatama	Ponerinae	Kuro-nise-hari-ari		Japanese
Hypoponera opaciceps	Ponerinae	Kadofushi-nise-hari-ari		Japanese
Hypoponera punctatissima	Ponerinae	Tobi-nise-hari-ari		Japanese	as ''Hypoponera bondroiti''
Hypoponera ragusai	Ponerinae	Fushinaga-nise-hari-ari		Japanese	as ''Hypoponera gleadowi''
Hypoponera sauteri	Ponerinae	Nise-hari-ari		Japanese
Lasius alienus	Formicinae	Hime-tobiiro-ke-ari		Japanese
Lasius capitatus	Formicinae	Fushiboso-kusa-ari		Japanese
Lasius claviger	Formicinae	Smaller Yellow Ant		English
Lasius flavus	Formicinae	キイロケアリ	Kiiro-ke-ari	Japanese
Lasius hayashi	Formicinae	Hayashi-ke-ari		Japanese
Lasius hikosanus	Formicinae	Miyama-ameiro-ke-ari		Japanese
Lasius interjectus	Formicinae	Larger Yellow Ant		English
Lasius japonicus	Formicinae	Tobiiro-ke-ari		Japanese
Lasius meridionalis	Formicinae	Higenaga-ameiro-ke-ari		Japanese
Lasius morisitai	Formicinae	Morishita-ke-ari		Japanese
Lasius nipponensis	Formicinae	Kuro-kusa-ari		Japanese
Lasius orientalis	Formicinae	Teranishi-ke-ari		Japanese	as ''Lasius teranishii''
Lasius productus	Formicinae	Higenaga-ke-ari		Japanese
Lasius sakagamii	Formicinae	Kawara-ke-ari		Japanese
Lasius sonobei	Formicinae	Minami-kiiro-ke-ari		Japanese
Lasius spathepus	Formicinae	Kusa-ari-modoki		Japanese
Lasius talpa	Formicinae	Hime-kiiro-ke-ari		Japanese
Lasius umbratus	Formicinae	Ameiro-ke-ari		Japanese
Leptanilla japonica	Leptanillinae	Yamato-mukashi-ari		Japanese
Leptanilla kubotai	Leptanillinae	Tosa-mukashi-ari		Japanese
Leptanilla morimotoi	Leptanillinae	Hikosan-mukashi-ari		Japanese
Leptanilla oceanica	Leptanillinae	Ogasawara-mukashi-ari		Japanese
Leptanilla tanakai	Leptanillinae	Yakushima-mukashi-ari		Japanese
Leptogenys confucii	Ponerinae	Hashiri-hari-ari		Japanese
Leptothorax acervorum	Myrmicinae	Takane-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Linepithema humile	Dolichoderinae	Argentine Ant		English
Lioponera daikoku	Dorylinae	Kuro-kubire-hari-ari		Japanese
Lordomyrma azumai	Myrmicinae	Mizogashira-ari		Japanese
Manica yessensis	Myrmicinae	Tsuya-kushike-ari		Japanese
Messor aciculatus	Myrmicinae	Kuronaga-ari		Japanese
Monomorium chinense	Myrmicinae	Kuro-hime-ari		Japanese
Monomorium floricola	Myrmicinae	Futairo-hime-ari		Japanese
Monomorium hiten	Myrmicinae	Futamon-hime-ari		Japanese
Monomorium intrudens	Myrmicinae	Hime-ari		Japanese
Monomorium minimum	Myrmicinae	Little Black Ant		English
Monomorium pharaonis	Myrmicinae	Pharaoh Ant		English
Monomorium triviale	Myrmicinae	Kiiro-hime-ari		Japanese
Myrmecina amamiana	Myrmicinae	Sujibuto-kadofushi-ari		Japanese
Myrmecina flava	Myrmicinae	Kiiro-kadofushi-ari		Japanese
Myrmecina nipponica	Myrmicinae	Kadofushi-ari		Japanese
Myrmecina ryukyuensis	Myrmicinae	Kogata-kadofushi-ari		Japanese
Myrmica jessensis	Myrmicinae	Ezo-kushike-ari		Japanese
Myrmica kotokui	Myrmicinae	Shiwa-kushike-ari		Japanese
Myrmica kurokii	Myrmicinae	Kuroki-kushike-ari		Japanese
Myrmica rubra	Myrmicinae	Kiiro-kushike-ari		Japanese
Nylanderia amia	Formicinae	Kebuka-ameiro-ari		Japanese
Nylanderia flavipes	Formicinae	Ameiro-ari		Japanese
Nylanderia fulva	Formicinae	Tawny Crazy Ant		English
Nylanderia nubatama	Formicinae	Kuro-sakura-ari		Japanese
Nylanderia ogasawarensis	Formicinae	Ogasawara-ameiro-ari		Japanese
Nylanderia otome	Formicinae	Hiyowa-ameiro-ari		Japanese
Nylanderia ryukyuensis	Formicinae	Ryuukyuu-ameiro-ari		Japanese
Nylanderia yaeyamensis	Formicinae	Yaeyama-ameiro-ari		Japanese
Nylanderia yambaru	Formicinae	Yanbaru-ameiro-ari		Japanese
Ochetellus glaber	Dolichoderinae	Ruri-ari		Japanese
Odontomachus monticola	Ponerinae	Agito-ari		Japanese
Ooceraea biroi	Dorylinae	Kubire-hari-ari		Japanese
Paraparatrechina sakurae	Formicinae	Sakura-ari		Japanese
Parasyscia hashimotoi	Dorylinae	Jyuuni-kubire-hari-ari		Japanese
Paratrechina longicornis	Formicinae	Crazy Ant		English
Parvaponera darwinii	Ponerinae	Dahwin-hari-ari		Japanese
Pheidole fervens	Myrmicinae	Minami-oozu-ari		Japanese
Pheidole fervida	Myrmicinae	Azuma-oozu-ari		Japanese
Pheidole indica	Myrmicinae	Indo-oozu-ari		Japanese
Pheidole megacephala	Myrmicinae	African Big-headed Ant		English
Pheidole nodus	Myrmicinae	Oozu-ari		Japanese
Pheidole parva	Myrmicinae	Bugi-oozu-ari		Japanese	as ''Pheidole bugi''
Pheidole pieli	Myrmicinae	Hime-oozu-ari		Japanese
Pheidole ryukyuensis	Myrmicinae	Naga-oozu-ari		Japanese
Pheidole susanowo	Myrmicinae	Kuro-oozu-ari		Japanese
Plagiolepis alluaudi	Formicinae	Usu-hime-ki-ari		Japanese
Plagiolepis flavescens	Formicinae	Himeki-ari		Japanese
Pogonomyrmex badius	Myrmicinae	Florida Harvester Ant		English
Pogonomyrmex barbatus	Myrmicinae	Red Harvester Ant		English
Pogonomyrmex californicus	Myrmicinae	California Harvester Ant		English
Pogonomyrmex maricopa	Myrmicinae	Maricopa Harvester Ant		English
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis	Myrmicinae	Western Harvester Ant		English
Pogonomyrmex rugosus	Myrmicinae	Rough Harvester Ant		English
Polyergus samurai	Formicinae	Samurai-ari		Japanese
Polyrhachis dives	Formicinae	Kuro-toge-ari		Japanese
Polyrhachis lamellidens	Formicinae	Toge-ari		Japanese
Polyrhachis latona	Formicinae	Taiwan-toge-ari		Japanese
Polyrhachis moesta	Formicinae	Chikushi-toge-ari		Japanese
Ponera bishamon	Ponerinae	Hoso-hime-hari-ari		Japanese
Ponera japonica	Ponerinae	Hime-hari-ari		Japanese
Ponera kohmoku	Ponerinae	Manako-hari-ari		Japanese
Ponera scabra	Ponerinae	Teranishi-hari-ari		Japanese
Ponera swezeyi	Ponerinae	Ogasawara-hari-ari		Japanese
Ponera takaminei	Ponerinae	Arehada-hari-ari		Japanese
Ponera tamon	Ponerinae	Minami-hime-hari-ari		Japanese
Pristomyrmex	Myrmicinae	Amime-ari-zoku		Japanese
Pristomyrmex brevispinosus	Myrmicinae	Togemune-amime-ari		Japanese	as ''Pristomyrmex yaeyamensis''
Pristomyrmex punctatus	Myrmicinae	Amime-ari		Japanese	as ''Pristomyrmex pungens''
Probolomyrmex longinodus	Proceratiinae	Hoso-hananaga-ari		Japanese
Probolomyrmex okinawensis	Proceratiinae	Hananaga-ari		Japanese
Proceratium itoi	Proceratiinae	Itou-kagibara-ari		Japanese
Proceratium japonicum	Proceratiinae	Yamato-kagibara-ari		Japanese
Proceratium morisitai	Proceratiinae	Morishita-kagibara-ari		Japanese
Proceratium watasei	Proceratiinae	Watase-kagibara-ari		Japanese
Protanilla lini	Leptanillinae	Okinawa-juzufushi-ari		Japanese
Pseudomyrmex gracilis	Pseudomyrmecinae	Slender Twig Ant		English
Pseudoponera stigma	Ponerinae	Pan-tropical panther ant		English
Recurvidris recurvispinosa	Myrmicinae	Kakubara-ari		Japanese
Rhopalomastix omotoensis	Myrmicinae	Higebuto-ari		Japanese
Solenopsis geminata	Myrmicinae	Tropical Fire Ant		English
Solenopsis invicta	Myrmicinae	Red Imported Fire Ant		English
Solenopsis japonica	Myrmicinae	Tofushi-ari		Japanese
Solenopsis molesta	Myrmicinae	Thief Ant		English
Solenopsis richteri	Myrmicinae	Black Imported Fire Ant		English
Solenopsis tipuna	Myrmicinae	Okinawa-tofushi-ari		Japanese
Solenopsis xyloni	Myrmicinae	Southern Fire Ant		English
Stenamma nipponense	Myrmicinae	Hime-naga-ari		Japanese
Stenamma owstoni	Myrmicinae	Naga-ari		Japanese
Stigmatomma caliginosum	Amblyoponinae	Hime-nokogiri-hari-ari		Japanese
Stigmatomma fulvidum	Amblyoponinae	Keshi-nokogiri-hari-ari		Japanese
Stigmatomma sakaii	Amblyoponinae	Yaiba-nokogiri-hari-ari		Japanese
Stigmatomma silvestrii	Amblyoponinae	Nokogiri-hari-ari		Japanese
Strongylognathus koreanus	Myrmicinae	Ibari-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys benten	Myrmicinae	Iga-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys canina	Myrmicinae	Hirata-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys circothrix	Myrmicinae	Maruge-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys emmae	Myrmicinae	Yofushi-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys exilirhina	Myrmicinae	Kibabuto-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys hexamera	Myrmicinae	Sedaka-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys hirashimai	Myrmicinae	Hime-sedaka-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys hiroshimensis	Myrmicinae	Hiroshima-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys incerta	Myrmicinae	Nokoba-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys japonica	Myrmicinae	Yamato-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys kichijo	Myrmicinae	Kichijou-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys lacunosa	Myrmicinae	Hakake-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys leptothrix	Myrmicinae	Kebuka-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys lewisi	Myrmicinae	Uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys masukoi	Myrmicinae	Manazuru-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys mazu	Myrmicinae	Tsuya-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys membranifera	Myrmicinae	Tokara-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys minutula	Myrmicinae	Hime-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys morisitai	Myrmicinae	Kibaore-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys mutica	Myrmicinae	Nuka-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys rostrataeformis	Myrmicinae	Takasago-ashinaga-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys sauteri	Myrmicinae	Hime-hirata-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys solifontis	Myrmicinae	Oo-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys stenorhina	Myrmicinae	Kibanaga-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys strigatella	Myrmicinae	Kakugao-uroko-ari		Japanese
Strumigenys terayamai	Myrmicinae	Ymizo-uroko-ari		Japanese
Syllophopsis sechellensis	Myrmicinae	Kado-hime-ari		Japanese
Syscia humicola	Dorylinae	Tsuchi-kubire-hari-ari		Japanese
Tapinoma melanocephalum	Dolichoderinae	Ghost Ant		English
Tapinoma sessile	Dolichoderinae	Odorous House Ant		Enlgish
Technomyrmex gibbosus	Dolichoderinae	Hirafushi-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax anira	Myrmicinae	Hirase-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax antera	Myrmicinae	Fushinaga-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax arimensis	Myrmicinae	Hime-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax basara	Myrmicinae	Yaeyama-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax bikara	Myrmicinae	Yadori-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax congruus	Myrmicinae	Muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax haira	Myrmicinae	Ogasawara-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax indra	Myrmicinae	Kiiro-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax kinomurai	Myrmicinae	Kinomura-yadori-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax koreanus	Myrmicinae	Kado-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax kubira	Myrmicinae	Chairo-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax makora	Myrmicinae	Hayashi-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax santra	Myrmicinae	Bohnin-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Temnothorax spinosior	Myrmicinae	Harinaga-muneboso-ari		Japanese
Tetramorium bicarinatum	Myrmicinae	Oo-shiwa-ari		Japanese
Tetramorium immigrans	Myrmicinae	Pavement Ant		English
Tetramorium kraepelini	Myrmicinae	Kebuka-shiwa-ari		Japanese
Tetramorium lanuginosum	Myrmicinae	Ikarige-shiwa-ari		Japanese
Tetramorium nipponense	Myrmicinae	Kiiro-oo-shiwa-ari		Japanese
Tetramorium simillimum	Myrmicinae	Sazanami-shiwa-ari		Japanese
Tetramorium smithi	Myrmicinae	Kadomune-shiwa-ari		Japanese
Tetramorium tsushimae	Myrmicinae	Tobiiro-shiwa-ari		Japanese
Tetraponera attenuata	Pseudomyrmecinae	Oo-nagafushi-ari		Japanese
Trichomyrmex destructor	Myrmicinae	Mizo-hime-ari		Japanese
Vollenhovia amamiana	Myrmicinae	Oo-umematsu-ari		Japanese
Vollenhovia benzai	Myrmicinae	Tatenashi-umematsu-ari		Japanese
Vollenhovia emeryi	Myrmicinae	Umematsu-ari		Japanese
Vollenhovia nipponica	Myrmicinae	Yadori-umematsu-ari		Japanese
Vollenhovia okinawana	Myrmicinae	Okinawa-umematsu-ari		Japanese
Vollenhovia sakishimana	Myrmicinae	Sakishima-umematsu-ari		Japanese
Vollenhovia yambaru	Myrmicinae	Yanbaru-umematsu-ari		Japanese
Wasmannia auropunctata	Myrmicinae	Little Fire Ant		English