Myrmecia: Wart or Ant? Two Very Different Meanings

Nov 3

2 min read

If you search for "Myrmecia", you will find two completely different things: a group of Australian ants, and a type of wart. They share a name, but nothing else. Here is what each one is.

Myrmecia nigrocincta bull ant — Myrmecia nigrocincta, a real Myrmecia ant.

Myrmecia the wart

In medicine, myrmecia is another name for a plantar wart: a wart on the sole of the foot or on the toes. It is caused by an infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). A plantar wart often looks a bit like a cauliflower, sometimes with tiny black dots in the middle, and it can hurt when you stand or walk. It has nothing to do with ants.

This is general information, not medical advice. If you have a painful or unusual spot on your foot, ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Myrmecia the ant

In biology, Myrmecia is a genus of around 90 species of ants from Australia, better known as bull ants, bulldog ants and jack jumpers. They are large, have huge eyes and a powerful sting, and some species can jump. Start with our 15 bull ant facts or see the best-known species.

Why the same name?

Both names go back to ancient Greek, in which myrmēx means ant. The ant genus was named after that word, while the medical term comes from an old Greek word for a type of wart. Two words with the same root, two very different meanings.