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Honey carrier ant

Melophorus sp.

Description:

An 8 mm long striking-looking, fast moving ant with red head and thorax and bluish-black abdomen.

Habitat:

Spotted by the road-side - urban area.
These ants are endemic to Australia

Notes:

Its unusual size and colour caught my eye. Also, it appeared to be scurrying around foraging and difficult to follow, its movements slightly different to the other ants in the area.
Melophorus ants are said to be common in arid areas and the species include the famous honey-pot ant, a sought after food for some indigenous Australians. They are said to be the fastest and most timid ants in Australia. They are omnivores- some eat seeds and some species feed on larvae and pupae of meat ants.
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae

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Leuba Ridgway
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Leuba Ridgway

Victoria, Australia

Spotted on Feb 12, 2020
Submitted on Feb 16, 2020

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