Meranoplus sp. (genus)

Shield Ant at Dunlop, ACT

Meranoplus sp. (genus) at Dunlop, ACT - 6 Nov 2019
Meranoplus sp. (genus) at Dunlop, ACT - 6 Nov 2019
Meranoplus sp. (genus) at Dunlop, ACT - 6 Nov 2019
Meranoplus sp. (genus) at Dunlop, ACT - 6 Nov 2019
Meranoplus sp. (genus) at Dunlop, ACT - 6 Nov 2019
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Identification history

Meranoplus sp. (genus) 6 Nov 2019 JonLewis
Meranoplus sp. (genus) 6 Nov 2019 CathB

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User's notes

Very busy little ants that don't stop for photographs.

5 comments

JonLewis wrote:
   7 Nov 2019
Good spotting Cath!
CathB wrote:
   23 Nov 2019
Hi Jon, I’ve added two new pictures (images 4 and 5), taken at the same place on 20 Nov. I thought this was just a slightly larger ant – it looked the same and it moved the same way. However, in the photos it looks more like a mutillid wasp than an ant. Some form of mimicry perhaps?
JonLewis wrote:
   23 Nov 2019
Could be - they certainly look similar.
KimPullen wrote:
   4 Dec 2019
Yes Cath, 4 and 5 are a female mutillid wasp. It would be good to separate them as a different sighting, with a note as to their association with the Meranoplus.
CathB wrote:
   6 Dec 2019
Thanks Jon and Kim. The wasp now appears separately in sighting 4244058.

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 6 Nov 2019 12:00 AM Recorded on
  • CathB Recorded by

Additional information

  • Less than 5mm Animal size

Species information

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