''Amblyopone australis'', the southern Michelin ant, is a species of
ant
Ants are Eusociality, eusocial insects of the Family (biology), family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the Taxonomy (biology), order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from Vespoidea, vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cre ...
in the genus ''
Amblyopone
''Amblyopone'' is a genus of 10 species of ants, found in Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea and New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island ...
'', native to
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. The species was described by
Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson
Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson (26 November 1809 – 18 December 1848) was a German entomologist and doctor.
He was the author of many articles about insects mainly in ''Archiv für Naturgeschichte''. When writing in Latin, he latinised ''Wilhelm'' ...
in 1842.
Workers can vary in colour from yellow to dark brown or black. They have a body length of 4.5–8mm; queens are larger.
It has been accidentally introduced to New Zealand, where it has become widely established across the North Island. It is the largest ant species established in New Zealand.
Biology
''Amblyopone australis'' lives in relatively small colonies of tens to hundreds (up to 2000), typically under logs or stones. Adults forage above and below ground, preying upon other arthropods, paralysing them with their sting. Larvae are fed dismembered body parts of prey.
References
External links
AntWiki: ''Ambylopone australis''– Includes map of global distribution
*
Lessons from Little Creatures'. Article on New Zealand ants from NZ National Geographic. Beautifully illustrated.
Amblyoponinae
Hymenoptera of Australia
Ants of New Zealand
Insects described in 1842
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