Iridomyrmex purpureus

Meat Ant at Mongarlowe, NSW

Iridomyrmex purpureus at Mongarlowe, NSW - 2 Jun 2019
Iridomyrmex purpureus at Mongarlowe, NSW - 2 Jun 2019
Iridomyrmex purpureus at Mongarlowe, NSW - 2 Jun 2019
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Identification history

Iridomyrmex purpureus 3 Jun 2019 JonLewis
Camponotus sp. (genus) 2 Jun 2019 LisaH

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User's notes

I'm guessing this is a sugar ant? I found this an interesting site, as the track in the second photo is made by the ants for the ants, and has been there for years.

2 comments

JonLewis wrote:
   3 Jun 2019
Hi Lisa, this is a meat ant, Iridomyrmex purpureus. It Is pretty big, like a sugar ant, but you can see in the third photo the red and purple colours on it. Meat ants are very good at building highways to help them travel quickly between nests or to go out foraging for food. Cheers, Jon
LisaH wrote:
   3 Jun 2019
Thank you so much!

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 16 - 100 Abundance
  • 2 Jun 2019 05:28 PM Recorded on
  • LisaH Recorded by

Additional information

  • 5mm to 12mm Animal size

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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