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.
Ochetellus glaber is a species of ant native to Australia. A member of the genus Ochetellus in the subfamily Dolichoderinae, it was described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. Aside from Australia, O. glaber has been introduced to a number of countries, including China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines and the United States, where it has established itself in Hawaii and Florida. It has been found on Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Réunion and the Solomon Islands. Compared with other ants, O. glaber is a small species, with workers measuring 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in). Males are the smallest at 1.6 mm (0.063 in), while the queens measure 5.2–5.5 mm (0.20–0.22 in). The ant's colour ranges from brown to black.
Ochetellus is a genus of ants first described by Steve Shattuck in 1992. He placed it in the subfamily Dolichoderinae of the family Formicidae. The ants in this genus are small and black in colour; workers measure 1.75 to 3 millimetres in length, the males at around 1.6 millimetres (0.06 in) are smaller, and the queens are the largest, reaching 4 millimetres (0.16 in). There are seven described species and three described subspecies that mostly live in Australia in a wide variety of habitats, but some species are found in Asia. One species, Ochetellus glaber, has been introduced into New Zealand and the United States.
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 chasei is an ant belonging to the genus Iridomyrmex. The species was described by Forel in 1902, the species is mainly abundant nationwide in Australia, with an exception of its presence in Tasmania. This species is widely known for its large and highly populated nests.
Iridomyrmex alpinus is a species of ant of the genus Iridomyrmex. It was described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011.
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 difficilis is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described in 2011, it is a widespread species in Australia as well as inhabiting the Torres Strait and off shorelines of Queensland.
Iridomyrmex fulgens is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattukck in 2011, the species is found in several states in Australia, usually in the drier regions of the country.
Iridomyrmex longisoma is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the ant is endemic to Australia, confined in Western Australia, and nests are known to inhabit into sandy soil.
Iridomyrmex mayri is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Forel in 1915, the species is endemic to Australia, these ants commonly nests under stones and rotting logs, and forage on tree trunks. The species also tends to larvae of Jalmenus evagoras butterflies.
Iridomyrmex meridianus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex, described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011. The species is endemic to Australia, and nests are commonly found under rocks, logs and rotting wood in forested areas, and they are known to be living in southern areas of Australian states like Western Australia and Tasmania.
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 mjobergi is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Forel in 1915, the species is among the most common of the genus, endemic to all states and territories in Australia, and even extends into New Guinea. Workers are not usually aggressive, and they have been observed foraging for foods like nectar and honeydew.
Iridomyrmex rufoinclinus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Shattuck in 1993, the species is a common ant in the northern regions of Australia in woodland like habitats, and nests can be found on loose soils.
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 splendens is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Auguste-Henri Forel in 1907, the ant is mainly distributed in the southern regions of Australia, commonly found in dry sclerophyll woodland, and nests are found under logs.
Philidris nagasau is a species of ant in the genus Philidris. Described by William M. Mann in 1921, the species is endemic to Fiji.
An ant supercolony is an exceptionally large ant colony, consisting of a high number of spatially separated but socially connected nests of a single ant species, spread over a large area without territorial borders. Supercolonies are typically polygynous, containing many egg-laying females. Workers and queens from different nests within the same supercolony can freely move among the nests, and all workers cooperate indiscriminately with each other in collecting food and care of the brood, and show no apparent mutual aggressive behavior.
