說明/ 體長約0.7 公分，普遍易見的大型蟻類。胸部背板有一對一對的刺，共有8 根。牠們的領域性較強，碰上外敵時工蟻會將腹部舉起，朝敵人噴出蟻酸。普遍分布於平地至中低海拔山區，常於植物有蚜蟲滋生的地方聚集吸食蜜露，與蚜蟲有共生關係。黑棘蟻的聚落結構特殊，其中沒有兵蟻，且一后多夫或多后多夫的現象都存在。黑棘蟻因為強列的領域性，會以攻擊的方式與外來種紅火蟻競爭，可視為具有生物抗性之潛力物種。（彭楨儒攝）
About 0.7 cm in length, it is a common large-sized ant. The tergum has pairs of spikes, eight in total. Highly territorial, the workers, when encountering enemies, raise their abdomens and discharge formic acid. It is commonly distributed across plains and low and medium altitude mountains, often feeding on nectar in groups near aphids, with which it forms a symbiotic relationship. It has a special nest structure with no soldiers. The colonies can have a queen that multimate as well as being polygynous. Due to its highly territorial nature, it would attack exotic species such as the Red Fire Ant and is considered as a species with biotic resistance potential. (Photo courtesy of Peng Zhen-ru)