Myrmecia fulvipes

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Myrmecia fulvipes
Myrmecia fulvipes casent0914033 p 1 high.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmeciinae
Genus: Myrmecia
Species:
M. fulvipes
Binomial name
Myrmecia fulvipes
Roger, 1861

Myrmecia fulvipes is a bull ant belonging the genus Myrmecia . Native to Australia, these bull ants are found in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. [1]

Characteristics

Ants of the genus Myrmecia are commonly known as "bull ants". This species is similar in appearance to the jack jumper ant. Their jaws and most of their body are coloured black, with their legs being orange and their abdomen being a golden colour. Workers are 9-13 millimetres long and their queens are larger at 14-16 millimetres long. [2] [3]

Like the jack jumper ant, they have the ability to jump short distances. The usually use this tactic to flee or to attack their targets. Their sting is relatively mild. Their main source of food is insects for their larvae and honey water. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Myrmecia</i> (ant) Genus of ants

Myrmecia is a genus of ants first established by Danish zoologist Johan Christian Fabricius in 1804. The genus is a member of the subfamily Myrmeciinae of the family Formicidae. Myrmecia is a large genus of ants, comprising at least 93 species that are found throughout Australia and its coastal islands, while a single species is only known from New Caledonia. One species has been introduced out of its natural distribution and was found in New Zealand in 1940, but the ant was last seen in 1981. These ants are commonly known as bull ants, bulldog ants or jack jumper ants, and are also associated with many other common names. They are characterized by their extreme aggressiveness, ferocity, and painful stings. Some species are known for the jumping behavior they exhibit when agitated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack jumper ant</span> Species of ant endemic to Australia

The jack jumper ant, also known as the jack jumper, jumping jack, hopper ant, or jumper ant, is a species of venomous ant native to Australia. Most frequently found in Tasmania and southeast mainland Australia, it is a member of the genus Myrmecia, subfamily Myrmeciinae, and was formally described and named by British entomologist Frederick Smith in 1858. This species is known for its ability to jump long distances. These ants are large; workers and males are about the same size: 12 to 14 mm for workers, and 11 to 12 mm for males. The queen measures roughly 14 to 16 mm long and is similar in appearance to workers, whereas males are identifiable by their perceptibly smaller mandibles.

<i>Myrmecia esuriens</i> Species of ant

Myrmecia esuriens, also known as Tasmanian inchman, is a species of bulldog ant native to Tasmania.

Myrmecia croslandi is a species of bull ant which is endemic to Australia. Myrmecia croslandi is a jumping type of bull ant, which means it could be called a jack jumper. Myrmecia croslandi are located around Australia. They can be seen throughout New South Wales and Queensland. Myrmecia croslandi was described by Taylor in 1991.

<i>Myrmecia pyriformis</i> Species of ant

Myrmecia pyriformis, also known as the bull ant or inch ant, is an Australian ant. Myrmecia pyriformis belongs to the genus Myrmecia. It is abundant in many major cities of Australia, but mostly spotted in the eastern states. The species is of a similar appearance to the Myrmecia forficata.

Myrmecia hirsuta is a species of bull ant, belonging to the 90 species in the genus Myrmecia. The species was described in 1951 by John Clark. Myrmecia hirsuta is distributed across the whole country of Australia, with their distribution is in most Australian states.

<i>Myrmecia nigrocincta</i> Species of ant

Myrmecia nigrocincta, commonly known as the jumper ant or jumping jack, is an ant of the genus Myrmecia. The species was first described by Frederick Smith in 1858. Colonies of this ant are abundant in eastern Australia. Ants of this species are known for their ability to jump up to 10 centimetres, and they also have a powerful, venomous sting. Rather than foraging on the ground, M. nigrocincta prefer to forage in trees where they are known to pollinate certain flowers.

<i>Myrmecia gratiosa</i> Species of ant endemic to Australia

Myrmecia gratiosa is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. Native to Australia, this species is mainly found in Western Australia. During a study in Perth, it was realised that Myrmecia gratiosa was located in all locations where reactions in patients occurred. This concludes the species was responsible for ant sting anaphylaxis around Perth.

<i>Myrmecia browningi</i> Species of ant endemic to Australia

Myrmecia browningi is an Australian bull ant species, a part of the genus Myrmecia. They are endemic to Australia and have primarily only been seen in South Australia.

<i>Myrmecia tarsata</i> Species of ant

Myrmecia tarsata is a bull ant species native to Australia. The species belongs to the genus Myrmecia. Their distribution is large, mainly around New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

<i>Myrmecia fulviculis</i> Species of ant

Myrmecia fulviculis, the toothless bullant, is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is native to Australia and is usually distributed along the coastlines of New South Wales and Queensland.

<i>Myrmecia clarki</i> Species of ant endemic to Australia

Myrmecia clarki is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is endemic to Australia and is commonly distributed in Western Australia. The average length for this species is typically around 16-16.5 millimetres long. Males are smaller at 11-12 millimetres long and queens are normally bigger. They are similar to the jack jumper ant. They are mostly black, with the exception of their mandibles being yellow and the legs being blackish-brown.

<i>Myrmecia gilberti</i> Species of ant

Myrmecia gilberti is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is native to Australia. This species is distributed throughout all of the eastern states and regions of Australia.

<i>Myrmecia piliventris</i> Species of ant endemic to Australia

Myrmecia piliventris, the golden tail bull ant, is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is native to Australia. The Myrmecia piliventris is distributed Australia wide, but they're not too common in the western regions of Australia.

Myrmecia fulgida is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is native to Australia. Their distribution mostly in Western Australia and some areas of the east of Australia.

<i>Myrmecia erecta</i> Species of ant endemic to Australia

Myrmecia erecta is an Australian bull ant species, a part of the genus Myrmecia. They are endemic to Australia. They are mainly distributed in South Australia and the surrounding areas of the state.

<i>Myrmecia froggatti</i> Species of ant endemic to Australia

Myrmecia froggatti is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is endemic to Australia. This species is distributed throughout all areas of New South Wales and elsewhere up north and south.

<i>Myrmecia michaelseni</i> Species of ant

Myrmecia michaelseni is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is native to Australia. They are mostly distributed and studied in Western Australia.

<i>Myrmecia varians</i> Species of ant endemic to Australia

Myrmecia varians is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is endemic to Australia. The Myrmecia varians is one of the most distributed ants in the country, with the species being observed in every single state and territory except for Tasmania. Myrmecia varians was first described by Mayr in 1876.

Jack jumper ant, Myrmecia pilosula, an Australian ant

References

  1. "Myrmecia fulvipes Roger, 1861". Atlas of Living Australia. Govt of Australia. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  2. Clark, John (1951). The Formicidae of Australia (Volume 1) (PDF). Melbourne: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia. pp. 165–168.
  3. Brown, William (1953). Revisionary notes on the ant genus Myrmecia of Australia (PDF). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.
  4. "Myrmecia fulvipes". World of Ants. Retrieved 10 March 2014.