Bulldog Ant
Brief:
The bulldog ant, Myrmecia, also known as bull ants, inch ants, sergeant ants, or jumper ants, is a genus of ants. Bulldog ants can grow to over 40 mm in length, with the smallest of the species being 15 mm in length. Almost all of the approximated 90 species are endemic to Australia, with the exception of Myrmecia apicalis from New Caledonia.
These ants are well known in Australia for their aggressive behaviour and powerful stings. The venom of these ants has the potential to induce anaphylactic shock in allergic sting victims. As with most severe allergic reactions, if left untreated the reaction may be lethal. These large, alert ants have characteristic large eyes and long, slender mandibles. They have superior vision, able to track and even follow intruders from a distance of 1 metre. Myrmecia is one of several ant genera which possess gamergates, female worker ants which are able to mate and reproduce, thus sustaining the colony after the loss of the queen. A colony of Myrmecia pyriformis without queen was collected in 1998 and kept in captivity, during which time the gamergates produced viable workers for three years.
Habits
Bulldog ants eat small insects, honeydew (a sweet, sticky liquid found on leaves, excreted from various insects), seeds, fruit, fungi, gums, and nectar. Due to the fact that these ants mostly live exclusively in bushland, they are rarely exposed to a human-influenced diet. The adult ants mainly eat nectar and honeydew, but the ant larvae are carnivores that eat small insects brought back to them by hunting worker ants. The workers can also regurgitate food back in the nest so other ants can consume it.
Foes of bulldog ants are the black ants, which despite being much smaller, use their much greater numbers to overwhelm bull ant colonies
Habitat
Typically nesting outdoors in soil or under logs or rocks, the bulldog ant build extensive tunnel systems. They are seldom seen inside buildings.
Threats
These ants are well known in Australia for their aggressive behaviour and powerful stings.The venom of these ants has the potential to induce anaphylactic shock in allergic sting victims. As with most severe allergic reactions, if left untreated the reaction may be lethal.
Prevention
Others
Some photos and information are provided by Bayer.
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