Myrmecia gulosa

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Myrmecia gulosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmeciinae
Genus: Myrmecia
Species:
M. gulosa
Binomial name
Myrmecia gulosa
(Fabricius, 1775)

Myrmecia gulosa, the red bull ant,

Eastern Australia
.

Taxonomy

The first Myrmecia gulosa specimen was collected in 1770 by Joseph Banks, making it one of the first Australian insects to be collected and described by a European.

Description

Being one of the larger ant species, adult individuals have been observed to be as long as 15 mm to 30 mm in body length. The head and

mandibles and a venom-laced sting capable of causing severe pain for a couple of days. Unlike most other ant species, red bull ants lack the ability of chemical senses[citation needed
]; however, this is compensated by their extremely keen vision, with which they can spot and respond to intruders two metres away.

Distribution and habitat

Myrmecia gulosa ants are abundant in eastern Australia. They can be found in the coastal regions of

Taree and in Sydney (in the suburbs of Como, Oatley and Liverpool).[2]

Their distribution in

Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia has been verified. Specimen found and collected & documented on 05/02/2024 (Victoria) [3] Based on specimens collected, they are found living in elevations ranging from 121 to 2,000 m (400 to 6,600 ft).[4] M. gulosa ants generally construct small mounds, and they prefer open areas where they are frequently seen foraging. Foraging workers are frequently observed being around burnt areas.[5]

Behaviour

Regarded as a relatively "primitive" ant species, red bull ants are known to be solitary predators that are occasionally uncooperative with one another, whose social behaviour is poorly developed in comparison to more "advanced" species. They are notoriously aggressive hunters able to subdue formidable prey such as

infertile
) eggs, which are commonly fed to the queen and larvae.

Nests are constructed with tunnel systems and may become quite extensive.

References

  1. doi:10.1080/00222939100771021. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  2. ^ Clark, John; CSIRO (1951), The formicidae of Australia. Volume 1, Subfamily Myrmeciina (PDF), Melbourne: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia, pp. 49–51, retrieved 2 December 2014
  3. CSIRO
    . 19 September 2004. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  4. ^ "Species: Myrmecia gulosa (Fabricius, 1775)". AntWeb (California Academy of Sciences). Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  5. ISBN 0-642-21422-0. Retrieved 2 December 2014.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )

External links

External images

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Myrmecia_gulosa&oldid=1215280368"