Myrmecia pavida

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Myrmecia pavida
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. pavida
Binomial name
Myrmecia pavida
Clark, 1951 [1]

Myrmecia pavida is a bull ant species that lives in and is native to Australia. Described by John S. Clark in 1951, the Myrmecia Pavida is distributed and has been mainly collected from the states of Western Australia and South Australia. [2]

The average length of a worker is 19-22 millimeters. Queens are larger at over 25 millimeters in length. The head and gaster are black. The thorax, node, legs, and other features are brown. The antennae and tarsi are red, and the mandibles and clypeus are yellow. [3] [4]

Biology and behavior

Like other ants of the genus Myrmecia, Myrmecia pavida has excellent vision. They are mostly nocturnal. It can spot predators from 1–2 metres (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in). They are also highly aggressive when potential intruders and humans disrupt their nests. [5]

After numerous tests about the mating system and generic structure of the bull ant Myrmecia pavida, Chappell wrote:

We find little evidence of geographic structuring or inbreeding in the population, indicating that the species outbreeds, most probably in mating swarms. We also find that queens of M. pavida show moderately high polyandry, with 84% having mated with between two and seven males, and an overall mean observed mating frequency of 3.8. This is significantly higher than previously reported for queens of Nothomyrmecia macrops , in which most females mate singly. This was similar to that of Myrmecia pyriformis , Myrmecia brevinoda , and Myrmecia pilosula , the three congenerics for which mating frequencies have recently been reported.

— Chappell, P, [6]

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.

<i>Nothomyrmecia</i> Genus of ants

Nothomyrmecia, also known as the dinosaur ant or dawn ant, is an extremely rare genus of ants consisting of a single species, Nothomyrmecia macrops. These ants live in South Australia, nesting in old-growth mallee woodland and Eucalyptus woodland. The full distribution of Nothomyrmecia has never been assessed, and it is unknown how widespread the species truly is; its potential range may be wider if it does favour old-growth mallee woodland. Possible threats to its survival include habitat destruction and climate change. Nothomyrmecia is most active when it is cold because workers encounter fewer competitors and predators such as Camponotus and Iridomyrmex, and it also increases hunting success. Thus, the increase of temperature may prevent them from foraging and very few areas would be suitable for the ant to live in. As a result, the IUCN lists the ant as Critically Endangered.

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

Myrmecia gulosa, the red bull ant, also known as the giant bull ant or "hoppy joe", is a species of bulldog ant from the genus Myrmecia. It is abundant throughout Eastern Australia.

<i>Myrmecia nigriceps</i> Endemic ant species from Australia

Myrmecia nigriceps, also known as the black-headed bull ant, is a species of ant endemic to Australia. A member of the genus Myrmecia in the subfamily Myrmeciinae, it was first described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. These ants are large, varying from 19 to 23 millimetres in length. However, colonies contain workers that are much smaller, usually half the size of normal workers. The queens are the largest while the males are the smallest, which can be easily identified due to their small mandibles.

<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.

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

Myrmecia arnoldi is a bull ant of the genus Myrmecia. Like all bull ants except for one species in this genus, Myrmecia arnoldi is native to Australia.

<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 harderi</i> Species of ant

Myrmecia harderi is an Australian bull ant species which is part of the genus Myrmecia. They are native to Australia. They are mainly distributed in New South Wales, and some parts of Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland.

<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.

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

Myrmecia chasei is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is native to Australia. The Myrmecia chasei has a large presence and distribution in the south-eastern areas of Western 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 regularis</i> Species of ant endemic to Australia

Myrmecia regularis is a species of ant endemic to Australia. A member of the genus Myrmecia in the subfamily Myrmeciinae, it was first described by American entomologist Walter Cecil Crawley in 1925. These ants are medium to large in size, measuring 10 to 20 millimetres, and they are bright brownish-red in colour. Queens and workers share similar morphological features, but they can be distinguished by the noticeable size difference. Males also look similar, but collected specimens are too damaged to be examined properly.

<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 fuscipes</i> Species of ant

Myrmecia fuscipes is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is native to Australia. Their distribution is heavily observed in South Australia and Western Australia.

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

Myrmecia athertonensis is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is endemic to Australia. They are commonly spotted in the north of Queensland. It was described by Forel in 1915.

<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 occidentalis</i> Species of ant endemic to Australia

Myrmecia occidentalis is a species of ant. It belongs to the genus Myrmecia and was described by John S. Clark in 1943. Native to Australia, Myrmecia occidentalis is mainly distributed in the state of Western Australia.

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

Myrmecia comata is an Australian ant in the genus Myrmecia. This species is native to Australia and distributed mostly around Queensland. It was described as a species by John S. Clark in 1951.

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

Myrmecia swalei is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. This species is native to Australia and is commonly distributed in Western Australia and South Australia. It was described by Crawley in 1922.

<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.

References

  1. ↑ "Myrmecia pavida (Clark, 1951)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Myrmecia pavida Clark, 1951". Atlas of Living Australia . Govt of Australia. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  3. ↑ Clark, John (1951). The Formicidae of Australia (Volume 1) (PDF). Melbourne: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia. pp. 76–77.
  4. ↑ R.W Taylor, K Ogata (1991). Ants of the genus Myrmecia Fabricius: a preliminary review and key to the named species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmeciinae) (PDF). Canberra: Australian National Insect Collection. p. 1666.[ dead link ]
  5. ↑ Ants Down Under
  6. ↑ Chappell, P (March 2013). Mating system and population genetic structure of the bulldog ant Myrmecia pavida (Hymenoptera Formicidae) (PDF). Vienna.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)


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