''Prolasius advenus'' is a species of
ant
Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of 22,0 ...
in the genus ''
Prolasius''.
It is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...
to
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
, widespread across the North and South Islands, including offshore islands.
It is a relatively small ant, with workers 2.9-3.5mm in length. Its common name is small brown bush ant.
Biology
Colonies can include hundreds of workers and multiple queens. ''Prolasius advenus'' is found in a variety of forest habitats. It is a generalist forager, preying upon and scavenging small arthropods, as well as tending mealy-bugs and scale insects for honeydew.
References
External links
*
* AntWiki lists the species under the synonym
Prolasius advena'
Lessons from Little Creatures article on New Zealand ants from NZ National Geographic.
Formicinae
Ants of New Zealand
Insects described in 1862
Taxa named by Frederick Smith (entomologist)
Endemic insects of New Zealand
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