Iridomyrmex sp. (genus)
Ant at Copmanhurst, NSW
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| Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) | JonLewis | 26 Apr 2025 | |
| Unverified | MazzV | 26 Apr 2025 |
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User's notes
I believe these tiny black ants are a species extremely common in this location, with nests involving millions. They have no hesitation in nipping/stinging you if they climb on you and they are quite invasive to human habitat, especially in the days leading up to a rain event. Once established, however, they remain there. Only in closeup, and at certain angles, are 2 feint white lateral bands across the abdomen visible on this sightings subject (photos 1, 3 & 4). If these are the ones I’m thinking of, they are the same species as at sighting 4664475, and inclined to stick their abdomens up in the air at a roughly 45 degree angle. That was not observed on this occasion. The background is a relatively new concrete path.
1 comment
26 Apr 2025
Hi MazzV, many species of Iridomyrmex are as you describe - large nests with thousands or tens of thousands of ants, and very happy to defend their space with plenty of bites (they don't have a sting - some ants have stings and some don't - Iridomyrmex don't). Cheers.
Location information
- Places Copmanhurst, NSW
Sighting information
- 10 Abundance
- MazzV Recorded by
- Less than 5mm Animal size
Collections
- MazzV NatureMapr New South Wales North Coast Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Insects
Species information
- Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) Scientific name
- Ant Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1600.7m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
6 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- Description
- Additional attributes
- GPS evidence of location