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Project Noah Nature School
Ethmostigmus rubripes
Technomyrmex sp. of black ant swarm all over a just deceased Giant Centipede (12cm long, segmented, many pairs of legs, venomous bite). The centipede is common here in the open woodland dry forest environment an the ants are swarming daily as rain becomes imminent (hopefully as these extremes of heat are unbearable even for the wildlife). This centipede had only just 'turned up its toes' when I saw it and went back to get a camera (seconds) a few ants found it and then they converged smothering it within minutes.
Woodland under leaf litter, in hollows, under bark, under logs, in buildings. Found throughout Australia in many environments.
Spotted on Dec 23, 2013
Submitted on Dec 24, 2013
3 Comments
I agree! Must be Global Warming. We live really high and ants weren't much of a problem or even seen without really looking for them. Now they are definitely much more noticeable and I see species that weren't here before.
Yes LaurenZ it was dead - only just. The ground is swarming with ants of many species, it is impossible to stand still for even a few seconds before being attacked yourself. After observing ants in many parts of the country I am sure they are increasing in colony size, spread and populations as there seems so much more activity as compared to several decades ago.
Amazing! I hope it really died before the ant attack….