Insects
Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

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To see a diagram of a worker ant illustrating terminology, visit:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaster_(insect_anatomy)#/media/File:Scheme_ant_worker_anatomy-en.svg

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Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Featured sightings

Latest sightings

Rhytidoponera metallica at Corrowong, NSW by BlackFlat
Myrmecia sp., pilosula-group (Jack jumper) at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel
Camponotus aeneopilosus (A Golden-tailed sugar ant) at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel
Iridomyrmex purpureus (Meat Ant) at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel
Camponotus claripes (Pale-legged sugar ant) at Parkes, ACT by Hejor1
Polyrhachis sp. (genus) (A spiny ant) at Watson, ACT by sbittinger
Myrmecia sp., pilosula-group (Jack jumper) at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel
Myrmecia sp., pilosula-group (Jack jumper) at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel
Camponotus nigriceps (Black-headed sugar ant) at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel
Polyrhachis sp. (genus) (A spiny ant) at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel
Myrmecia nigriceps (Black-headed bull ant) at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel
Papyrius sp. (genus) (A Coconut Ant) at Parkes, ACT by TimL
Polyrhachis sp. (genus) (A spiny ant) at Cook, ACT by CathB
Crematogaster sp. (genus) (Acrobat ant, Cocktail ant) at Cook, ACT by CathB
Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumper ant, jumping jack) at Emu Heights, NSW by SimonDunstan
Formicidae (family) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus
Polyrhachis sp. (genus) (A spiny ant) at Tomakin, NSW by Hejor1
Formicidae (family) (Unidentified ant) at Tomakin, NSW by Hejor1
Crematogaster sp. (genus) (Acrobat ant, Cocktail ant) at Tomakin, NSW by Hejor1
Dolichoderus scabridus (Dolly ant) at Paddys River, ACT by Berlge
Myrmecia sp. (genus) (Bull ant or Jack Jumper) at Tinderry, NSW by danswell
Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) (Ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Rhytidoponera sp. (genus) (Rhytidoponera ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Crematogaster sp. (genus) (Acrobat ant, Cocktail ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Camponotus aeneopilosus (A Golden-tailed sugar ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Rhytidoponera sp. (genus) (Rhytidoponera ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Camponotus consobrinus (Banded sugar ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) (Ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Myrmecia sp., pilosula-group (Jack jumper) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Myrmicinae (subfamily) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Rhytidoponera aspera (Greenhead ant) at Dunbogan, NSW by LPW
Myrmecia tarsata (Bull ant or Bulldog ant) at Mogo, NSW by DavidDedenczuk
Camponotus consobrinus (Banded sugar ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Crematogaster sp. (genus) (Acrobat ant, Cocktail ant) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Rhytidoponera metallica (Greenhead ant) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Formicidae (family) (Unidentified ant) at Wodonga, VIC by KylieWaldon
Iridomyrmex purpureus (Meat Ant) at Wodonga, VIC by KylieWaldon
Camponotus aeneopilosus (A Golden-tailed sugar ant) at Ainslie, ACT by Hejor1
Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) (Ant) at Leneva, VIC by KylieWaldon
Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) (Ant) at Wodonga, VIC by KylieWaldon
Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Wodonga, VIC by KylieWaldon
Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) (Ant) at Wodonga, VIC by KylieWaldon
Myrmecia piliventris (Golden tail bull ant) at Hartley, NSW by SimonDunstan
Camponotus intrepidus (Flumed Sugar Ant) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K
Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Throsby, ACT by TimL
Camponotus aeneopilosus (A Golden-tailed sugar ant) at Russell, ACT by Hejor1
Camponotus consobrinus (Banded sugar ant) at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley
Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Russell, ACT by Hejor1
Papyrius sp. (genus) (A Coconut Ant) at Symonston, ACT by Mike
Camponotus consobrinus (Banded sugar ant) at Throsby, ACT by TimL
Crematogaster sp. (genus) (Acrobat ant, Cocktail ant) at Lane Cove, NSW by Hejor1
Tetramorium / Austromorium (genus group) (Pennant ants) at Campbelltown, NSW by Hejor1
Leptomyrmex sp. (genus) (Spider ant) at East Killara, NSW by Hejor1
Rhytidoponera sp. (genus) (Rhytidoponera ant) at Lane Cove, NSW by Hejor1
Tetramorium / Austromorium (genus group) (Pennant ants) at Lane Cove, NSW by Hejor1
Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) (Ant) at Lane Cove, NSW by Hejor1
Formicidae (family) (Unidentified ant) at Braddon, ACT by Hejor1
Camponotus nigriceps (Black-headed sugar ant) at Linley Point, NSW by Hejor1
Polyrhachis sp. (genus) (A spiny ant) at Linley Point, NSW by Hejor1
Rhytidoponera aspera (Greenhead ant) at Lindfield, NSW by Hejor1
Formicidae (family) (Unidentified ant) at North Ryde, NSW by Hejor1
Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumper ant, jumping jack) at Lindfield, NSW by Hejor1
Polyrhachis sp. (genus) (A spiny ant) at North Ryde, NSW by Hejor1
Polyrhachis sp. (genus) (A spiny ant) at North Ryde, NSW by Hejor1
Platythyrea parallela at North Ryde, NSW by Hejor1
Crematogaster sp. (genus) (Acrobat ant, Cocktail ant) at North Ryde, NSW by Hejor1
Meranoplus sp. (genus) (Shield Ant) at North Ryde, NSW by Hejor1
Formicidae (family) (Unidentified ant) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Crematogaster sp. (genus) (Acrobat ant, Cocktail ant) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) (Ant) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Ochetellus sp. (genus) (Black House Ant) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Camponotus consobrinus (Banded sugar ant) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Rhytidoponera metallica (Greenhead ant) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Pheidole sp. (genus) (Seed-harvesting ant) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Formicidae (family) (Unidentified ant) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) (Ant) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Myrmecia fulvipes (Red-legged Toothless bull ant) at Campbell, ACT by NateKingsford
Myrmecia nigriceps (Black-headed bull ant) at Campbell, ACT by NateKingsford
Camponotus nigroaeneus (Sugar ant) at Aranda, ACT by NateKingsford
Camponotus aeneopilosus (A Golden-tailed sugar ant) at Bruce, ACT by NateKingsford
Camponotus nigriceps (Black-headed sugar ant) at Bruce, ACT by NateKingsford
Camponotus claripes (Pale-legged sugar ant) at Bruce, ACT by NateKingsford
Camponotus sp. (genus) (A sugar ant) at Bungonia, NSW by trevorpreston
Myrmecia tarsata (Bull ant or Bulldog ant) at Bungonia, NSW by trevorpreston
Iridomyrmex purpureus (Meat Ant) at Acton, ACT by ConBoekel
Colobopsis gasseri (An arboreal ant) at Gungahlin, ACT by AlisonMilton
Iridomyrmex purpureus (Meat Ant) at Higgins, ACT by AlisonMilton
Camponotus intrepidus (Flumed Sugar Ant) at Ingeegoodbee, NSW by RobParnell
Rhytidoponera metallica (Greenhead ant) at Buxton, NSW by poida84
Iridomyrmex purpureus (Meat Ant) at Yackandandah, VIC by KylieWaldon
Camponotus intrepidus (Flumed Sugar Ant) at Aranda, ACT by CathB
Podomyrma sp. (genus) (Muscleman Tree Ant) at Aranda, ACT by CathB
Camponotus sp. (genus) (A sugar ant) at Jamberoo, NSW by nancyp
Formicidae (family) (Unidentified ant) at Gundary, NSW by RobG1
Formicidae (family) (Unidentified ant) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus
Formicidae (family) (Unidentified ant) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Moderators

MichaelMulvaney
JonLewis
SimonDunstan
DiBickers
become a moderator

Announcements

Discussion

JonLewis wrote:
28 Jan 2025
Hi Tim & Simon, the taxonomy of this genus is being revised at the moment and there are probably about three species around Canberra (and probably 8 - 10 species in all) which are very hard to tell apart, so we are recording all coconut ants just at genus level for now. Cheers, Jon
Papyrius sp. (genus)
JonLewis wrote:
25 Jan 2025
Nice photos Alison! Cheers, Jon
Iridomyrmex rufoniger
KylieWaldon wrote:
25 Jan 2025
TY SimonD. I seem to be getting a lot of different ants and ant behaviours this season! :)
Iridomyrmex sp. (genus)
SimonDunstan wrote:
25 Jan 2025
Males(drones) of the species :)
Iridomyrmex sp. (genus)
JonLewis wrote:
22 Jan 2025
Hi Tim, the echidna looks like it is having look around a meat ant nest, maybe previously dug up by an echidna back in winter? The ants we can see are not meat ants, however, they are Iridomyrmex rufoniger, probably the most common Iridomyrmex in the region, and probably just bystanders rather than a serious target for the echidna. cheers, Jon
Iridomyrmex rufoniger

Significant sightings

Recent activity

Rhytidoponera metallica

Formicidae (family)

Myrmecia sp., pilosula-group at Yass River, NSW

Camponotus claripes at Parkes, ACT

Myrmecia sp., pilosula-group at Yass River, NSW

Camponotus aeneopilosus at Yass River, NSW

Iridomyrmex purpureus at Yass River, NSW

Camponotus sp. (genus) at Parkes, ACT

Iridomyrmex purpureus at Yass River, NSW

Camponotus sp. (genus) at Parkes, ACT

Species Richness Score (SRS)

Top contributors

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1,909,600 sightings of 21,437 species from 13,247 contributors
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