Iridomyrmex is a genus of ants called rainbow ants first described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. He placed the genus in the subfamily Dolichoderinae of the family Formicidae. It has 79 described species and five fossil species. Most of these ants are native to Australia; others are found in Asia and Oceania, and they have been introduced to Brazil, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates. Fossil species are known from China, France, and the United States.
The meat ant, also known as the gravel ant or southern meat ant, is a species of ant endemic to Australia. A member of the genus Iridomyrmex in the subfamily Dolichoderinae, it was described by British entomologist Frederick Smith in 1858. The meat ant is associated with many common names due to its appearance, nest-building behaviour and abundance, of which its specific name, purpureus, refers to its coloured appearance. It is among the best-known species of ant found throughout Australia; it occurs in almost all states and territories except for Tasmania. Its enormous distribution, aggression and ecological importance have made this ant a dominant species.
Iridomyrmex agilis is an ant of the genus Iridomyrmex. They are distributed throughout most of Australia. They are usually found in the drier regions of Australia. The species was described by Forel in 1907.
Iridomyrmex anceps is an ant species of the genus Iridomyrmex. It has a very large distribution on multiple continents, but it is mainly distributed in northern Australia. Some specimens were found on multiple islands, and some were even found and collected in the United Arab Emirates.
Iridomyrmex alpinus is a species of ant of the genus Iridomyrmex. It was described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011.
Iridomyrmex atypicus is a species of ant of the genus Iridomyrmex. It was recently described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011. Specimens recorded were only found in Lake Mere in New South Wales. They were only found in paddocks.
Eldermyrmex is an extinct genus of ant in the Formicidae subfamily Dolichoderinae. The genus contains a single described species Eldermyrmex oblongiceps. Eldermyrmex is known to be from the Baltic Amber.
Yantaromyrmex is an extinct genus of ants first described in 2013. Members of this genus are in the subfamily Dolichoderinae of the family Formicidae, known from Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene fossils found in Europe. The genus currently contains five described species, Y. constrictus, Y. geinitzi, Y. intermedius, Y. mayrianum and Y. samlandicus. The first specimens were collected in 1868 and studied by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr, who originally placed the fossils in other ant genera until the fossils were reviewed and subsequently placed into their own genus. These ants are small, measuring from 4 to 6 mm in length and can be characterized by their trapezoidal shaped head-capsules and oval compound eyes that are located slightly to the rear of the capsules midpoint, with no known ocelli present.
Iridomyrmex azureus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Viehmeyer in 1914, specimens collected have been found in dry habitats in Western Australia and South Australia, and also in New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
Iridomyrmex brennani is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described recently in 2011, specimens were collected from Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia in the Kambalda district.
Iridomyrmex dromus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by John S. Clark in 1938, the ant is a nocturnal species that is distributed nationwide in Australia, commonly found in habitats such as desert, dry sclerophyll and rainforests in Tasmania.
Iridomyrmex luteoclypeatus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, nothing is essentially known about the ant, other than the ant being found in the drier regions of Australia and is diurnal.
Iridomyrmex minor is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Forel in 1915, the ant is common in Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland, and it is unlikely there are existing colonies in more southern Australian states. Nests have been found under bark, and is among the most likely ant to be encountered by the general public.
Iridomyrmex roseatus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the species has a northern temperate and tropical distribution in Australia, and can be found in most states, and the habitats of the ant may be similar to the preferences of the Meat ant species.
Iridomyrmex rufoniger is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. It was described by Lowne in 1865. The species is endemic to Australia and introduced to several other countries.
Iridomyrmex setoconus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Shattuck and McMillan in 1998, the species is endemic to Australia, and small populations have only been found in Esperance.
Iridomyrmex spadius is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Shattuck in 1993, localised populations of the species can be found in Queensland, Australia.
Iridomyrmex spodipilus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Shattuck in 1993, the ant is endemic to Australia, and specimens have only been found in from Fowlers Gap in New South Wales, while foraging on low shrub and grassland.
Iridomyrmex victorianus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Auguste-Henri Forel in 1902, the species distributed to the east coast in Australia. The species usually takes an opportunity of using other nests constructed by larger ants, usually abandoned, and some were found in a bull ant nest.
Liometopum bogdassarovi is an extinct species of ant in the genus Liometopum, found in Belarus. Described by Nazaraw, Bagdasaraw and Uriew in 1994, the fossils are relatively young and are guessed to be from the Quaternary period, and was originally placed in the genus Iridomyrmex.
