Hi Con
They are Meat Ants (Iridomyrmex purpureus). Prue and I were watching an
Echidna doing some serious damage to a nest on Mt Ainslie yesterday afternoon.
They occasionally start nests in our garden where they can be a real nuisance -
they bite given every opportunity. Digging the nest up with a spade is usually
enough to put them off.
Locally they are the attendant ants for the caterpillars of the Stencilled
Hairstreak butterfly. See
https://canberra.naturemapr.org/Community/Sightings/Details/4176598
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: Con Boekel <>
Sent: Sunday, 19 January 2020 11:07 AM
To: canberrabirds chatline <>
Subject: assistance sought on ant ID
I would appreciate it if somebody could identify the ants that build large
nests and runways in the suburbs of canberra.
The nests can be over a metre wide. Typically there are multiple entrances.
Also, typically, the ants keep the nest surface clear of litter.
The ants are a red colour. I know them as meat ants. Anything more specific
than that would be appreciated.
regards
Con
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