Several ant species earn the name “gold ants” thanks to a striking coat of golden hairs that covers part or all of their bodies. The most commonly referenced is the golden-tailed spiny ant (Polyrhachis ammon), native to eastern Australia, though golden carpenter ants in Africa and Asia also fit the description. These ants aren’t actually gold-colored underneath. Their dark bodies are covered in fine, reflective hairs that catch the light and create a shimmering metallic appearance.
The Golden-Tailed Spiny Ant
Polyrhachis ammon is the species most people encounter when searching for gold ants. Workers measure about 6 to 10 mm long, with dark bodies and a distinctive patch of shiny golden hairs covering the rear section of the abdomen. The “spiny” part of their name comes from sharp, thorn-like spines protruding from the thorax and waist, giving them an armored look that’s unusual even among ants.
These ants live along the east coast of Australia, ranging from northern Queensland down to Victoria. Their preferred habitats are open forests, woodlands, and eucalypt forests in coastal regions. They’re not a rare species in these areas, and bushwalkers sometimes spot them on tree trunks or along trails where their golden abdomens glint in sunlight.
Like other Polyrhachis species, golden-tailed spiny ants are skilled nest builders. Many species in this genus construct nests using silk produced by their larvae, weaving together leaves or debris into elaborate structures attached to vegetation. They tend to forage individually rather than in long trails, which makes them less conspicuous than many common ant species despite their eye-catching appearance.
Golden Carpenter Ants
Camponotus sericeus, sometimes called the silky or golden carpenter ant, is another species frequently described as a gold ant. Found across parts of Africa and southern Asia, this species has a fine layer of golden pubescence (short, silky hairs) that gives its body a warm metallic sheen. The species name “sericeus” itself means silky in Latin.
Golden carpenter ants are notably larger than their Australian counterparts. Workers come in two distinct size classes: minor workers with head widths around 2.9 mm and major workers (soldiers) with head widths around 4.5 mm. Colony sizes are relatively modest, typically ranging from 400 to 800 individuals. That’s small compared to many ant species, where colonies can number in the tens of thousands. Like other carpenter ants, they nest in wood or soil rather than building silk structures.
Why Some Ants Have Golden Hair
The golden shimmer on these ants comes from dense layers of tiny hairs called setae. Under magnification, each hair is a thin, flattened structure that reflects light at certain wavelengths, producing the gold or bronze color visible to the naked eye. The hairs aren’t pigmented gold the way a flower petal might be. Instead, their structure interacts with light to create the metallic effect, similar to how a soap bubble produces colors through thin-film interference.
These hairs likely serve multiple purposes. In hot, sun-exposed environments, a reflective coat can reduce heat absorption, helping the ant regulate its body temperature during foraging. Research on Saharan silver ants, a related example of metallic-haired ants, has shown that reflective body hairs can lower an ant’s surface temperature significantly. The hairs may also help with waterproofing or reducing water loss through the exoskeleton, which matters for species living in dry or variable climates.
Identifying Gold Ants in the Wild
If you’ve spotted an ant with a golden sheen and want to narrow down the species, location is your best starting clue. In eastern Australia, a dark ant with golden hairs concentrated on the abdomen and visible spines on its midsection is almost certainly Polyrhachis ammon. In Africa or South Asia, a larger ant with an all-over silky golden appearance is likely Camponotus sericeus or a close relative.
A few other ant genera also produce species with golden coloring. Some Myrmecocystus (honeypot ants) in North American deserts have amber-gold bodies, though their color comes from translucent exoskeletons rather than hair. Certain tropical Polyrhachis species outside Australia also display gold or copper-colored pubescence. The common thread is that “gold ant” isn’t a single species but a description applied to any ant whose appearance fits, and at least a dozen species worldwide could reasonably claim the title.