Distribution and habitat Meat ant

reported occurrences of meat ant populations according atlas of living australia

the meat ant 1 of best-known species of ant endemic australia; has enormous geographical range, covering @ least one-third of continent. range spans 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) east west, , 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) north south. extensive range has allowed meat ant form large nesting grounds in areas no development has occurred, , large amounts of gravel , open space have led abundant supply of materials (i.e. pebbles , dead pieces of vegetation) used construct nests. isolation has allowed meat ants form associations neighbouring nests of same species. ant particularly dominant , seen across coastal , inland regions of southeastern australia. based on examined material, meat ants widespread throughout new south wales, australian capital territory , victoria. in queensland, encountered in eastern regions, whereas abundance limited around north , central parts. ants common in southwestern regions of western australia, though not in north. however, division of entomology of csiro states ant s presence in state has not been verified. specimens collected in south australia south-east, populations known in north-west , northeast regions of state. in northern territory, specimens have been collected in north , south regions compared other jurisdictions ant uncommon. no specimens have been collected tasmania or outlying islands surrounding australia.

meat ants thrive in varied habitats, open , warm. these ants adapted , thrive in warm climates , areas constant high temperatures. meat ant shares distribution many other animals , insects, of may cause harm ant or rival it, such banded sugar ant (camponotus consobrinus). nests seen in box-pine scrubs, callitris forests, dry , wet sclerophyll woodland, eucalypt open woodland, in farm pastures, flat savannah woodland, mallee woodland, heath, mulga, riparian woodland, around roads , cracks in sidewalks, , urban areas such urban gardens , parkland. nests common in lateritic ridges, granite outcrops , clay formations. meat ants able survive in dry areas if there rich supply of water , food resources (such honeydew , arthropod prey), along river banks, station properties , irrigated areas. meat ants typically occur @ altitudes of 5 , 1,170 m (16 , 3,839 ft) above sea level, though @ times can found @ heights of 915 m (3,002 ft). found @ these altitudes associated eucalyptus rubida, , colonies situated in eastern new south wales tend nest near e. melliodora , e. blakelyi. in south coast of new south wales, meat ants found in heath shrubland, absent heavily timbered slopes , cannot build nests in quartz. other areas ants not occur include dense pastures, dense bushes, tropical rainforests , treeless areas. example, canberra suburb of turner constructed on subterranean clover pasture, meat ants not nest around. populations later flourish , nests became numerous around houses after shrubs , trees planted.

nests

meat ant mound near bungendore, new south wales

meat ants known large, oval-shaped nest-mounds (normally 1 or 2 metres (3.3 or 6.6 ft) in diameter) encountered in areas of occurrence, , obvious identify. these nests associated many entrance holes; nests have 20 35 holes. on surface on nest, workers clear area of vegetation , cover mound gravel, may use other materials available, including sand, pebbles, dead vegetation, eucalyptus fruits , twig fragments. nests built in sun , hardly in shade keep them warm. ant polydomous species, meaning live in more 1 nest. colonies known create super-nests : workers construct many nests connected through established paths, extending 650 metres (2,130 ft) in length. in 1 extreme case, single colony found occupy on 10 hectares (25 acres) of land 85 individual nests , 1,500 entrance holes. while show no aggression toward nest mates, meat ants aggressive occupants of different nests within same colony. polydomy within colony typically favoured improves access forage, workers deliver of food nest closest site forage in.

at size, meat ant nest has possibility of dying out in year, site may reoccupied colony. hence, nests can old suggested in 1 study. nests may never reoccupied unknown reasons. regrowth of vegetation shades nest, soil damage or disease may wipe out colony , leave nest site abandoned. death of colony may obvious when competing colonies increase in population , size expanding territories well-established satellite nests in order exploit food sources once used former colony. satellite nests may diverge parent nests become independent, suggested antagonism of worker ants different nests or when others uninhabitable insecticide treatment. after eradication of nest, satellite nests emerge nearby, , may sever connections parent nest. separation of satellite nest effective way nest exploit food sources, , colony less 11 entrance holes recognised non-mature (a nest mature @ 12). satellite nests have 11 holes , accept queen of own, satellite nest may develop maturity in 1 year.

ant mound holes prevent water entering nest during rain

all entrance holes of given nest lead separate set of galleries. entrance holes tend small enough space single worker fit through, others may 1 centimetre (0.4 in) wide. beneath surface, there widened circular vertical shafts 1.5 centimetres (0.6 in) wide. below these shafts, tunnels turn irregular galleries paths going outward , downward form more galleries. of these galleries clustered 15 20 centimetres (5.9 7.9 in) beneath soil, extensively reworked worker ants in area above nest. these sets of galleries isolated others connecting neighbouring holes, although may come close. however, there no known physical connection. each gallery has flat floor, domed roof , irregularly oval-shaped. gallery typically 1.5 centimetres (0.6 in) high , 5 7 centimetres (2.0 2.8 in) wide. below galleries small number of shafts in undisturbed soil large, yet scattered chambers population remains during winter. in upper areas of colony, galleries , shafts account 7–10% of nest space. example, galleries of excavated colonies occupy 420 cubic centimetres (26 cu in) whereas total volume around 5,000 cubic centimetres (310 cu in). overall, nest may dwell extremely deep beneath soil excavated nests deep 3 metres (9.8 ft).