Shimmering Golden Sugar ant Camponotus sericeiventris

The name says it all: this carpenter ant shimmers with a distinctive golden hue, particularly on its abdomen, giving it an almost jewel-like appearance. Native to Central and South America, it holds a unique distinction as the only species in its entire subgenus, Myrmepomis, making it a true singleton in the ant world.

Like other carpenter ants, it excavates wood for nesting, and large populations can cause structural damage. But its striking, shimmering appearance makes it stand out visually from duller relatives, fully earning its poetic common name.