56 replies to this topic

[CrazyLegs]

I often go walking through the wilderness in my area, lately in search of new queens.

I will post any interesting ant nests I come across, maybe it will help others who are in search of ants.

Now I'm no professional photographer but I'll do my best. 

Here's a few to get started.

 

This one is within walking distance of my home.

As they build up the nest, the frequent showers then pack it back down into clay to form sometimes bizarre structures. 

 

Myrmecia nigrocincta

I tell people if they put their eye to the hole they can see the queen.

These workers were 18mm.

 

Myrmecia brevinoda

This suspicious pile of dirt and leaves is not somewhere to sit down and have a rest.

The council has recently conducted a burn off in this area but it doesn't seem to bother the ants.

It actually makes the nests easier to see.

This worker was 30mm.

 

Myrmecia nigrocincta

These guys are the dominant bull ant in this area as far as sheer numbers are concerned.

Having excellent vision, and being one of the few myrmecia that actively forage in the day time.

I personally believe they decorate the nest to help them distinguish their own from others close by.

They all have a uniqueness about them.

It would mean certain death if they were to wander into an opposing nest entrance.

These workers were 18mm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by CrazyLegs, January 20 2017 - 12:57 PM.

[SamKeepsAnts]

Are they really that common? I've always assumed that bull ants are hard to find

[Leo]

so envious 

[CrazyLegs]

They're common for the trained eye, which this thread should help shed some light on.

Finding a nest in suburbia would be quite a feat.

Nigrocincta are all over the place, where I live anyways.

Probably not the best candidate for a formicarium though, They are jumpers and their speed and agility is often overlooked.

Plus they are the daytime warriors so you will always have them running (or hopping) around looking for trouble.

Brevinoda nests are scattered among them in fewer numbers.

I've seen Chrysogaster in my yard but they are elusive and quite small. Also agile and fast.

Sometimes I will see one of these little guys on my wheelie bin, as I approach it spots me, turns and plants it for the edge at which point it just leaps off like a base jumper, I always look but never see a parachute open.

I have walked trails and counted 15 nigrocincta nests along a 1 kilometer stretch.Some within metres of each other.

Then would walk another few kilometers and not see a single one.

Further south there are larger black species like Pyroformis but I personally haven't seen them up here.

 

This Brevinoda nest was hard to find being nothing more than a small hump near a sapling.

I knocked the top off and was surprised to find a sizeable number of sizeable ants.

It looked like it might rain later that day so I put a piece of wood over it and returned the next day to see they had sealed up around the timber.

 

[antgenius123]

Wow they're a pretty fair size.

[CrazyLegs]

They sure were antgenius, about 30mm.

There's always some smaller ones among them and they seem faster and more aggressive than their bigger sisters.

This next nest is the biggest Brevinoda nest I've come across to date.

It was about 40cm tall and 50cm across just off to the side of a 4wd trail.

I had to move that stick for peek inside.

A volcano of massive ants flowed forth.

The entrance was actually on the other side and there was another massive worker guarding it as if she had already received notice that something sinister was afoot.

Needless to say this nest is thriving.

The size of worker may well come down to how well the larvae are feeding.

 

 

 

[CrazyLegs]

This is typically what to keep an eye out for in search of Myrmecia nigrocincta.

The top entrance wouldn't collect rain but I think they need to fix the bottom one.

 

[CrazyLegs]

When I see a bull ant nest entrance all opened up I assume that new queens are nearby.

When I see them closed up to a pin hole entrance I assume these guys are having problems with neighbors.

One little nigrocincta blocking the entrance.

This nest was like a ghosttown.

I poked a stick in through the entrance and some leptomyrmex ran out and then back in again at the blink of an eye.

 

Edited by CrazyLegs, January 19 2017 - 6:39 PM.

[Leo]

smash it OPEN. lol were those beekeeper suits

[CrazyLegs]

Hahaha Leo, Here's one just for you.

I wasn't sure if this mound of dirt was even a nest. As I was about to walk past it I gave it a little kick.

 

Camponotus Nigriceps.

[Leo]

oh lol, THANK YOU

 

i kicked a mound once, turned out they were fire ants. i got stung everywhere. THEY WERE EVEN CRAWLING UP MY PANTS.

result? i took my pants off in public (i had underwear)

[Leo]

harpenthagos venator are the equivalent to your mymercia they sting, bite, sting, have good vision, and are quite large

[CrazyLegs]

They look awesome.

Mandibles like a forklift!

Edited by CrazyLegs, January 20 2017 - 12:56 PM.

[Martialis]

They look awesome.

Mandibles like a forklift!

 Their mandibles sort of remind me of elephant tusks.

[Leo]

i used to have some they died from a massive fungus attack 

[Martialis]

i used to have some they died from a massive fungus attack 

 

Too bad. Such amazing ants.

[Canadian anter]

i used to have some they died from a massive fungus attack 

Leo Nooooooooo! were those the ones I showed you? did you at least get pics?

[Connectimyrmex]

That moment when someone else has your dream ant within reach

 

I WANT YOU MYRMECIA

[Canadian anter]

That moment when someone else has your dream ant within reach

 

I WANT YOU MYRMECIA

can relate.

 

I NEED HARPEGNATHOS AND PHEIDOLE

[Leo]

 

i used to have some they died from a massive fungus attack 

Leo Nooooooooo! were those the ones I showed you? did you at least get pics?

 

yes yes i did

 

 

That moment when someone else has your dream ant within reach

 

I WANT YOU MYRMECIA

can relate.

 

I NEED HARPEGNATHOS AND PHEIDOLE

 

i have pheidole, used to have harpentahgos lol