Bug FAQSamsum Ant
Brachyponera sennaarensis · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae
Source: Wikipedia
Samsum ants are 5 to 6 mm long, have a broad head, dark brown to black-brown bodies with red antennae, tarsi and tibiae. They live on the ground in damp soils such as irrigation ditches, are native to Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, and are considered an invasive household pest. The ants are omnivorous scavengers that also eat seeds, and their colonies contain both large and small workers as well as winged males and females that fly after rain.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The head is wider than the mesosoma.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure about 5 to 6 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
It is one of the few ponerine ants considered invasive.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
The ant can deliver a powerful sting that has, on rare occasions, caused anaphylactic shock and death. Stings are defensive, and severe allergic reactions have been reported worldwide.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They dwell on the ground and cannot climb smooth vertical surfaces. Colonies are often found along damp irrigation ditches.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They are omnivorous scavengers and also feed on various plant seeds.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Winged males and females take part in nuptial flights that happen shortly after rain. Colonies contain both large and small worker ants.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Nuptial flights occur soon after rain.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
They are native to Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Large populations occur in many African countries, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
Can samsum ants sting humans?
Yes, they can sting, and in rare cases the sting can trigger severe allergic reactions.
Source: Wikipedia
Where are samsum ants originally from?
They are native to Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, with large populations in many African countries and parts of the Middle East.
Source: Wikipedia
What do samsum ants eat?
They are omnivorous scavengers that also feed on seeds of various plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Formicidae)
Eastern Black Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusCan damage your home
Red Imported Fire AntSolenopsis invictaCan sting
American Winter AntPrenolepis imparis
Argentine AntLinepithema humileNuisance, not dangerous
Immigrant Pavement AntTetramorium immigransCan sting
Odorous House AntTapinoma sessileCan damage your homeSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsum_ant
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Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.