FW: [canberrabirds] Entomologists' Corner

[Philip Veerman <>]

What I sent to you I meant to go to the discussion about the jumping ants on the chat line.  Could you please forward it to the chat line

 

Elizabeth

 

 

 

From: Elizabeth Compston [ Sent: Sunday, 5 February, 2017 4:39 PM  To: Philip Veerman
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Entomologists' Corner

 

The hopper ants are very dangerous.  Many years ago, we were bush walking along the ridge above Tidbinbilla, between The Pyramid and the road that goes up to Gibraltar Rocks.  A member of our party was bitten by a jumper ant and she passed out.  We went for help at the old Tidbinbilla information Centre, after somehow contacting one ranger.  An ambulance came out from Canberra, but it could not get up the Gibraltar Rocks Road--no 4WD, that's how long ago it was.  She was put in the back of a ranger ute.  

 

Elizabeth

Sent from my iPad

On 5 Feb 2017, at 11:59, Philip Veerman <> wrote:

Well I learned something from that. The existence of gamergates. I had always thought that the queen was the only breeder and that all workers are sisters. Yet another twist.

 

Philip

 

From: Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Sunday, 5 February, 2017 11:23 AM
To:
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Entomologists' Corner

 

Yes Con, that’s the chap.  My grandfather, who lived at Upwey, called them hopper ants and warned me about them a very long time ago.  I might have added that ants generally have been very active this summer

 

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From: Con Boekel
Sent: Sunday, 5 February 2017 10:52 AM
To: Geoffrey Dabb
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Entomologists' Corner

 

Hi Geoffrey

Are Hopper Ants also called Jack Jumper Ants? The latter can cause deadly anaphylactic shock.

regards

Con

 

On 2/5/2017 10:28 AM, Geoffrey Dabb wrote:

While engaging in a short session of dogball on Rocky Knob Neighbourhood Park just now I came across a colony of hopper ants.  I have seen these in local woodlands but not so close to home.  They are larger than the meat ant, certainly hop, and have (as I experienced just now) a more painful sting – more so than the bull-ant, in my opinion.  On a close view they have orange pincers.   I wonder where they came from. If they turn up in your garden you will certainly want to get rid of them.