Medium, 5.5-8mm long, chestnut-red with black gaster; pair of sharp spines on propodeum.

One of the most common ants found all over the country. Builds characteristic crater-like nests around the base of trees and in open ground. Excellent scavanger that also tends homopterans for honeydew. Has a distinct foraging trait; it holds the gaster bent at right angles to the body, with the tip pointing down. Forages both in groups and singly.

Colony : medium to large, with several thousand monomorphic workers.