Common razor-jaw ant (Leptogenys intermedia)
A medium sized ant, smallish in the genus, occurs in varieties of from 4.5 to 5.5 mm. Our Western Cape variant has been reported from a wide range of habitats and has also been taxonomically characterised as Leptogenys nitida. The species is occurs in small colonies of a few hundred individuals and is widespread throughout Africa. Some of the variants are a brownish red colour rather than black, but all have a redder tip to the gaster and paler leg joints and antennae. Leptogenys is the most diverse Ponerine genus in the world and is widespread throughout the warmer regions, in a bewildering variety of sizes and habits. The generic name ‘Leptogenys’ means ‘narrow mandible’ in this context, and indeed most species have narrow, razor-shaped mandibles. Hence too the common name. They are reputed to be specialist predators of isopods [woodlice, etc]. Our specimen was collected from Grootvadersbosch, where the ants were raiding the nest of another ant species, Grandfather’s wood ant (Axinidris lignicola). The Leptogenys were seizing the smaller ants in their jaws and immediately stinging them, which appeared to kill the innocents almost instantly. Any pupae or eggs which the victims were carrying were then seized and carried away by the Razor-jaw ants. Read more at www.ants.org.za