Rattle Ants

Description:

The Rattle Ant (aka Black Weaver Ant and Dome-backed Spiny Ant) is a medium-sized ant. It is shiny black with humped back. They have spines on their thorax. Body length is approx. 6-7 mm. They build their nests on trees using plants leaves, dry plant materials and soil which are woven together with silk of their larvae. Sometimes the colony builds more than one nest on the same plant. When their nest is disturbed (I gave it a good tap), they will come out and look for the intruder. They will also make the distinct 'rattle' noise by movement across the hard leaf surface to warn the intruder. Here's some info on the Rattle/Spiny Ant species http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/...

Habitat:

These ants were nesting in a tree. They constructed a nest over a 4 day period, and here's my documentation of their efforts - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/185...

Notes:

I see these ants from time to time, but usually in trees or bushes. Green ants, which are roughly the same size, are more ground-dwelling, and they are the ones I see most frequently. Please note the little white door on the nest. Perhaps they use this to seal the nest against the elements.