Bull ants
Bulldog ants
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© Bruce Hulbert
Fast Facts
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Classification
- Genus
- Myrmecia
- Subfamily
- Myrmeciinae
- Family
- Formicidae
- Super Family
- Vespoidea
- Suborder
- Apocrita
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
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- Number of Species
- 90
-
- Size Range
- 8 mm - 40 mm
Bull ants have a fearsome reputation, and deservedly so.
Identification
Bull ants are large, alert ants that can grow up to 40 mm They have characteristic large eyes and long, slender mandibles and a potent venom-loaded sting. They have superior vision, able to track and even follow intruders from a distance of 1 metre. Many species of bull ants have bright red or orange colours on the head or abdomen.
There are about 90 species of bull ants in Australia with diverse behaviours and life cycles. Nine bull ant species have been recorded in Sydney, but there may be more as yet undiscovered. Some of the smaller species are known as jumper ants after their habit of aggressively jumping toward intruders.
Habitat
Bull ants live in urban areas, forests and woodland, and heath.
Distribution
Bull ants are found throughout Australia.
Feeding and diet
Bull ants collect nectar and other plant juices, as well as animal prey, which are carried back to the nest.
Other behaviours and adaptations
Bull ant nests are usually underground and often have hidden or small entrances. The nests can extend several metres below the ground. They attack intruders of any size that come too close to their nest. Bull ants also have well-developed vision and will follow or even chase an intruder a good distance from the nest. Usually the sight of large aggressive ants streaming out of the nest is enough to prompt a hasty retreat. If not, the ants deliver painful stings by gripping the intruder with their mandibles (jaws), curling their abdomen to reveal the sting and injecting the victim with venom. Often multiple stings are delivered.
Life history cycle
Several species have no colony workers. Instead, a raiding queen invades the nest of another species, kills the resident queen and takes over the colony.
Danger to humans
These ants can deliver painful stings and are aggressive. An ice pack or commercially available spray may be used to relieve the pain of the sting. If there is evidence of an allergic reaction, medical attention should be sought.
