Malaysian Exploding Ant

Colobopsis Saundersi

  • Color: Red with black abdomen and legs
  • Worker size: 4-8 millimetres
  • Colony size: several thousand
  • Queen: 10-12 millimetres, polygyne, polydomous, (due to limited information on this ant, there is no information on claustrality)

Introduction

Malaysian exploding ants are a recently discovered species of ants (as of 2025), and they are truly fascinating and need to be explored further. They have minor workers who are around 4-7 mm in size, while the major workers are 7-8 mm in size. Malaysian exploding ants are also of a dark red and black appearance on the outside. These ants nest in the treetops as well. Their queens are 10-12 mm in size.

Unique Traits

Kamikaze Exploders

Malaysian exploding ants have a very special form of self-defence, or should I say, a way of self-sacrifice. Malaysian Exploding ants can self-destruct! To explode, first, they have to lift their abdomens up. Then, they bite into another ant and contract their abdominal muscles. Then, its abdomen explodes and releases a yellow sticky fluid. It is actually the yellow goo that packs the biggest punch, not the explosion itself. The fluid could deter or injure other ants. Although this kills the ant, it still injures its opponent, maybe even fatally! This behaviour is called “autothysis”.

Defences

They defend themselves by utilizing autothysis to attack other enemies. This fluid is toxic and can immobilize the enemy.

Habitat & Diet

Malaysian exploding ants live in the rainforests of Malaysia, Borneo, and Thailand. Malaysian exploding ants are omnivores who will eat fish, fruit, mosses, fungi, algae, and honeydew. They will forage for food.

Sources:

Written by: Eric Qian