[1] They are a strictly termite-eating (termitophagous) ponerine ant species widely distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa[2] and most commonly known for their column-like raiding formation when attacking termite feeding sites.

[9] In 2014 Schmidt and Shattuck revived Megaponera back to full genus status due to both molecular and morphological evidence.

[1] Due to its very wide distribution throughout Africa, it is likely that there are many more subspecies of M. analis than those recognised at the moment – some of which may warrant elevation to full species status.

[5] Even though M. analis is often referred to as dimorphic, with a major and minor caste, they actually exhibit polyphasic allometry[clarification needed] in worker sizes.

[4] Megaponera analis occurs throughout sub-Saharan Africa from 25° S to 12° N.[2] Its nests are generally subterranean, up to 0.7 metres (2 ft 4 in) deep, and often located next to trees, rocks, or abandoned termite hills.

[13] Frogs of the species Phrynomantis microps are sometimes found in the nests, and have evolved a skin secretion that inhibits the ants aggression.

If a scout ant finds a potential site, it will start to investigate it without getting into contact with the termites or entering the galleries, before returning by the quickest route to recruit its nestmates to conduct a raid.

Scouts have been observed to use deviations on open terrain (like paths) on which they can run twice as fast to reduce travel time on average by 35%.

[10] After a foraging site has been exploited, the ants congregate at the same place they waited earlier, with the majors carrying the termites, and return to the nest in a column-like formation.

outside of the nest, they cooperate with one another in an attempt to defend themselves by checking each other's extremities for enemy ants and removing any that are clinging to their legs or antennae.

The battle-injured ants "call" for help with a pheromone in their mandibular gland (consisting of two chemical compounds: dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide), attracting nestmates, who then start to investigate the injured nestmate, pick her up, and carry the injured ant back to the nest.

The mechanism with which this is regulated is believed to be relatively simple and based on a two-step process: after an ant is injured the first step is for it to try standing normally on its legs again ("return to an idling position").

Nest mates grab the damaged limb of the injured ant in their mandibles and hold it in place with their front legs.

This second, therapeutic care phase also includes the application of the secretions from the metapleural gland, which harbor over 100 antimicrobial compounds and proteins.