Karoo Balbyter Ant

Camponotus fulvopilosus · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae

Also called: Tawny Balbyter Sugar Ant

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
Karoo Balbyter Ant
Photo: Jonghyun Park, CC BY

When disturbed it sprays formic acid from its venom gland.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

It is also called the yellow-haired sugar ant.

Source: Wikipedia

Does it bite or sting?

When threatened, it sprays formic acid from its venom gland.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

It lives in rocky habitats across Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia and South Africa.

Source: Wikipedia

More photos

Karoo Balbyter Ant photo 3
Photo: Jonghyun Park, CC BY
Karoo Balbyter Ant photo 4
Photo: Nicola van Berkel, CC BY-SA
Karoo Balbyter Ant photo 5
Photo: Javier Ábalos Alvarez, CC BY-SA
Karoo Balbyter Ant photo 6
Photo: Tony Rebelo, CC BY-SA

Questions people ask

Can the Karoo balbyter ant sting?

When threatened it sprays formic acid from its venom gland.

Source: Wikipedia

Where is the Karoo balbyter ant found?

It is found in rocky, arid regions of western Southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, DRC, Namibia and South Africa.

Source: Wikipedia

What other names does this ant have?

It is also known as the yellow-haired sugar ant.

Source: Wikipedia

Same family (Formicidae)

Eastern Black Carpenter AntEastern Black Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusCan damage your homeRed Imported Fire AntRed Imported Fire AntSolenopsis invictaCan stingAmerican Winter AntAmerican Winter AntPrenolepis imparisArgentine AntArgentine AntLinepithema humileNuisance, not dangerousImmigrant Pavement AntImmigrant Pavement AntTetramorium immigransCan stingOdorous House AntOdorous House AntTapinoma sessileCan damage your home

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camponotus_fulvopilosus

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.

How this page works

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