Honey ants, also called honeypot ants, are ants which have specialised workers that are gorged with food to the point that their abdomens swell enormously. Other ants then extract nourishment from them, through the process of trophallaxis. They function as living larders. Honeypot ants belong to any of several genera, including Myrmecocystus and Camponotus. They were first documented in 1881 by Henry C. McCook, and described further in 1908 by William Morton Wheeler.
Carpenter ants are large ants indigenous to many forested parts of the world.
The banded sugar ant, also known as the sugar ant, is a species of ant native to Australia. A member of the genus Camponotus in the subfamily Formicinae, it was described by German entomologist Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson in 1842. Its common name refers to the ant's liking for sugar and sweet food, as well as the distinctive orange-brown band that wraps around its gaster.
Iridomyrmex, or the rainbow ant is a genus of ant first described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. He placed it in the subfamily Dolichoderinae of the family Formicidae. There are 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.
The speckled warbler is a species of bird in the family Acanthizidae. It is endemic to eastern Australia. Its natural habitat is temperate forests.
Camponotus nearcticus, commonly named smaller carpenter ant is a relatively small carpenter ant. Its appearance is similar of that to Lasius niger, commonly named the black garden ant. The ant is a household pest.
Ogyris oroetes, the silky azure, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in most of mainland Australia.
Colobopsis anderseni, synonym Camponotus anderseni, is a species of mangrove ant found in northern Australia.
Ogyris ianthis, commonly known as the golden azure or Sydney azure, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is an uncommon species found in localised areas around Sydney and northern New South Wales and into southern Queensland. It inhabits dry sclerophyll forest and open woodland on sandstone soils.
Ogyris genoveva, the genoveva azure or southern purple azure, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Australia.
Theclinesthes miskini, the wattle blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Australia and New Guinea.
Ogyris amaryllis, the amaryllis azure or satin azure, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Australia.
Ogyris abrota, the dark purple azure, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Australia, from southern Queensland to south-eastern Australia.
Ogyris olane, the Olane azure, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Australia, where it is found in most of the eastern half, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
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.
The black-headed sugar ant, also known as the brown sugar ant, is a species of Formicinae ant endemic to Australia. Found throughout most states, the species is a member of the genus Camponotus, a cosmopolitan genus of ants commonly known as carpenter ants. It was formally described and named by British entomologist Frederick Smith in 1858. These ants are characterised by their black head, reddish-brown mesosoma and black gaster, which can change in colour.
Camponotus ligniperda, the brown-black carpenter ant, is a common species of carpenter ant distributed widely throughout Europe. Found in a variety of woodland habitats, they commonly nest on the ground in dry tree stumps, dead fallen trees, or beneath stones and wooden logs that are partially buried. C. ligniperda is an ecologically dominant species wherever it is found due to both its large size and particularly aggressive nature.
