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This placement, however, was short lived and the ant was placed in the M. gulosa species group one month after it was placed in the M. cephalotes species group. [14] M. pyriformis is commonly known as the black bull-ant, brown bulldog ant or the inch ant, which references the colour and notably large size of the ant. [15] [16] [17]
Myrmeciinae is a subfamily of the Formicidae, ants once found worldwide but now restricted to Australia and New Caledonia.This subfamily is one of several ant subfamilies which possess gamergates, female worker ants which are able to mate and reproduce, thus sustaining the colony after the loss of the queen. [2]
Myrmecia gulosa, the red bull ant, also known as the giant bull ant or "hoppy joe", is a species of bulldog ant from the genus Myrmecia. It is abundant throughout Eastern Australia . Taxonomy
M. gulosa was designated as the type species of Myrmecia in 1840. [1]Myrmecia is a genus of small to large venomous ants commonly known as bulldog ants or jack jumper ants. The genus was first established by Danish zoologist Johan Christian Fabricius in 1804 and is placed in the subfamily Myrmeciinae of the family Formicidae.
Myrmecia nigriceps, also known as the black-headed bull ant, is a species of ant endemic to Australia. A member of the genus Myrmecia in the subfamily Myrmeciinae, it was first described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. These ants are large, varying from 19 to 23 millimetres (0.75 to 0.91 in) in length.
Ants of this genus are popularly known as bulldog ants, bull ants, or jack jumper ants due to their ferocity and the way they hang off their victims using their mandibles, and also due to the jumping behaviour displayed by some species. [6] Other common names include "inch ants", "sergeant ants", and "soldier ants".
Bulldog ants are known for being aggressive and defensive of nests, and sting and use their mandibles to fight off attackers. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 6 ] Myrmecia esuriens is closely related to M. pilosula , the venomous jack jumper ant , the sting of which is known to be deadly to humans sensitive or allergic to the venom.
Ants of the genus Myrmecia are commonly known as "bull ants". This species is similar in appearance to the jack jumper ant. Their jaws and most of their body are coloured black, with their legs being orange and their abdomen being a golden colour. Workers are 9-13 millimetres long and their queens are larger at 14-16 millimetres long. [2] [3]