User:Stephenhartley/sandbox
| Amblyopone australis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Amblyopone australis worker | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | A. australis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Amblyopone australis Erichson, 1842
| |
Amblyopone australis is a species of ant in the genus Amblyopone, endemic to Australia. The species was described by Erichson in 1842.[1] It has the common name of Southern Michelin ant. Workers can vary in colour from yellow to dark brown or black. They have a body length of 4.5-8mm, queens are larger.[2]
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.[2]
Biology
[edit]Amblyopone australis lives in relatively small colonies of 10s to 100s (up to 2000), typically under logs or stones. Adults forage above and below-ground, preying upon other arthropods, paralyzing them with their sting. Larvae are fed dismembered body parts of prey.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Erichson, W.F. (1842). "Beitrag zur Insecten-Fauna von Vandiemensland, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der geographischen Verbreitung der Insecten". Archiv für Naturgeschichte. 8: 83–287.
- ^ a b c "Amblyopone australis | Ant factsheets | Landcare Research". www.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
External links
[edit]
 | This ant-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |