Iridomyrmex rufoniger

Tufted Tyrant Ant at Acton, ACT

Iridomyrmex rufoniger at Acton, ACT - 3 Oct 2019
Iridomyrmex rufoniger at Acton, ACT - 3 Oct 2019
Iridomyrmex rufoniger at Acton, ACT - 3 Oct 2019
Iridomyrmex rufoniger at Acton, ACT - 3 Oct 2019
Iridomyrmex rufoniger at Acton, ACT - 3 Oct 2019
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Identification history

Iridomyrmex rufoniger 8 Oct 2019 JonLewis
Unidentified 7 Oct 2019 TimL

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User's notes

Winged male and female ants have been sighted for a few days now leaving several holes in a retaining wall and milling around on the wall before flying off. The abundance figure is probably far greater than the range stated here. It was noticeable that there were a greater number of the smaller winged males than the larger winged females during the sightings.

2 comments

JonLewis wrote:
   9 Oct 2019
Hi Tim, yes, there are usually many more male than female alates - they are much cheaper to produce (less durable, smaller, lighter, dumber) compared with the females (bigger, stronger, smarter) and I suppose provide a greater range for the females to select from. Cheers, Jon
TimL wrote:
   9 Oct 2019
Thanks for the information Jon.

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Nearby sightings

Page 4 of 5 - image sightings only

Simaethula sp. (genus) (A jumping spider) at Hackett, ACT - 6 Sep 2019 by TimL
Trichocolletes aeratus (A Spring Bee) at Acton, ACT - 3 Sep 2019 by TimL
Psocodea 'Psocoptera' sp. (order) (Unidentified plant louse) at Hackett, ACT - 3 Sep 2019 by TimL
Ankylopteryx sp. (genus) (Green lacewing) at Acton, ACT - 16 Aug 2019 by rawshorty
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Acton, ACT - 10 Jul 2019 by TimL
Colluricincla harmonica (Grey Shrikethrush) at Acton, ACT - 26 Jun 2019 by Tim L
Oncopeltus (Oncopeltus) sordidus (Milk vine bug) at Hackett, ACT - 5 Jun 2019 by Christine
Eurema smilax (Small Grass-yellow) at Acton, ACT - 1 Jun 2019 by TimL
Crematogaster sp. (genus) (Acrobat ant, Cocktail ant) at Acton, ACT - 1 Jun 2019 by TimL
Rainbowia sp. (genus) (A mite) at Acton, ACT - 28 May 2019 by TimL
Leratiomyces ceres (Leratiomyces ceres) at Acton, ACT - 20 May 2019 by Alison Milton
Notoncus sp. (genus) (A Notoncus ant) at Acton, ACT - 23 Apr 2019 by TimL
Eopsaltria australis (Eastern Yellow Robin) at Acton, ACT - 14 Apr 2019 by Alison Milton
Acari (informal subclass) (Unidentified mite) at Hackett, ACT - 10 Apr 2019 by RodDeb
Pachycephala pectoralis (Golden Whistler) at Hackett, ACT - 10 Apr 2019 by RodDeb
Oncopeltus (Oncopeltus) sordidus (Milk vine bug) at Hackett, ACT - 10 Apr 2019 by RodDeb
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT - 7 Apr 2019 by TimL
Anterhynchium nigrocinctum (A potter wasp) at Acton, ACT - 7 Apr 2019 by TimL
Orgyia anartoides (Painted Apple Moth) at Acton, ACT - 1 Apr 2019 by TimL
Turneromyia sp. (genus) (Zebra spider wasp) at ANBG - 27 Mar 2019 by TimL
Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Hackett, ACT - 26 Mar 2019 by TimL
Polyrhachis ornata (Ornate spiny ant) at Acton, ACT - 26 Mar 2019 by TimL
Trombidiidae (family) (Red velvet mite) at Acton, ACT - 22 Mar 2019 by TimL
Spectrotrota fimbrialis (A Pyralid moth) at Acton, ACT - 22 Mar 2019 by TimL
Austroscolia soror (Blue Flower Wasp) at Acton, ACT - 20 Mar 2019 by TimL
Polyrhachis ornata (Ornate spiny ant) at Acton, ACT - 18 Mar 2019 by TimL
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Acton, ACT - 12 Mar 2019 by RodDeb
Megachile (Eutricharaea) macularis (Leafcutter bee, Megachilid bee) at Acton, ACT - 12 Mar 2019 by RodDeb
Xylocopa (Lestis) aerata (Golden-Green Carpenter Bee) at Acton, ACT - 10 Mar 2019 by TimL
Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Acton, ACT - 23 Feb 2019 by Tim L
Pardalotus striatus (Striated Pardalote) at Acton, ACT - 21 Feb 2019 by RodDeb
Acanthiza lineata (Striated Thornbill) at Acton, ACT - 21 Feb 2019 by RodDeb
Neochmia temporalis (Red-browed Finch) at Acton, ACT - 21 Feb 2019 by RodDeb
Parasynthemis regina (Royal Tigertail) at Acton, ACT - 10 Feb 2019 by TimL
Scolia (Discolia) verticalis (Yellow-headed hairy flower wasp) at Acton, ACT - 10 Feb 2019 by TimL
Gastrimargus musicus (Yellow-winged Locust or Grasshopper) at Acton, ACT - 8 Feb 2019 by Alison Milton
Ctenotus taeniolatus (Copper-tailed Skink) at Acton, ACT - 8 Feb 2019 by AlisonMilton
Amegilla (Zonamegilla) asserta (Blue Banded Bee) at Acton, ACT - 8 Feb 2019 by Alison Milton
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Acton, ACT - 8 Feb 2019 by Alison Milton
Megachile sp. (several subgenera) (Resin Bees) at Acton, ACT - 8 Feb 2019 by Alison Milton
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Acton, ACT - 5 Feb 2019 by TimL
Caedicia simplex (Common Garden Katydid) at Hackett, ACT - 2 Feb 2019 by TimL
Zosterops lateralis (Silvereye) at Acton, ACT - 31 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Acton, ACT - 31 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Hackett, ACT - 31 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Chelepteryx collesi (White-stemmed Gum Moth) at Acton, ACT - 21 Jan 2019 by Tim L
Platycercus elegans (Crimson Rosella) at Canberra Central, ACT - 10 Jan 2019 by RodDeb
Synthemis eustalacta (Swamp Tigertail) at Acton, ACT - 30 Dec 2018 by TimL
Dicranolaius bellulus (Red and Blue Pollen Beetle) at Hackett, ACT - 17 Dec 2018 by RodDeb
Ecnolagria grandis (Honeybrown beetle) at Acton, ACT - 17 Dec 2018 by RodDeb
Psaltoda moerens (Redeye cicada) at Acton, ACT - 10 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Ptilocnemus lemur (Feathered leg assassin bug) at Acton, ACT - 8 Dec 2018 by TimL
Thomisus spectabilis (Spectacular Crab Spider) at Acton, ACT - 8 Dec 2018 by Tim L
Archimantis latistyla (Stick Mantis, Large Brown Mantis) at Acton, ACT - 8 Dec 2018 by TimL
Amphibolia (Amphibolia) ignorata (A bristle fly) at Hackett, ACT - 8 Dec 2018 by TimL
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Acton, ACT - 7 Dec 2018 by RodDeb
Graphium macleayanum (Macleay's Swallowtail) at Acton, ACT - 7 Dec 2018 by RodDeb
Dacelo novaeguineae (Laughing Kookaburra) at Acton, ACT - 6 Dec 2018 by RodDeb
Caedicia sp. (genus) (Katydid) at Hackett, ACT - 6 Dec 2018 by TimL
Pollanisus subdolosa or other (A Forester moth) at Hackett, ACT - 6 Dec 2018 by TimL
Pollanisus subdolosa or other (A Forester moth) at Hackett, ACT - 30 Nov 2018 by TimL
Pollanisus cyanota (A Forester moth (Procidinae)) at Hackett, ACT - 30 Nov 2018 by TimL
Sphecidae or Crabronidae (families) (Unidentified sand wasp) at Hackett, ACT - 30 Nov 2018 by RodDeb
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 30 Nov 2018 by RodDeb
Ichneumonidae (family) (Unidentified ichneumon wasp) at Acton, ACT - 30 Nov 2018 by RodDeb
Corcorax melanorhamphos (White-winged Chough) at Acton, ACT - 30 Nov 2018 by RodDeb
Polistes (Polistella) humilis (Common Paper Wasp) at Acton, ACT - 29 Nov 2018 by TimL
Hedana valida (A crab spider) at Acton, ACT - 27 Nov 2018 by TimL
Johnrehnia sp. (genus) (A coachroach) at Acton, ACT - 23 Nov 2018 by RodDeb
Polyrhachis ornata (Ornate spiny ant) at Acton, ACT - 21 Nov 2018 by TimL
Polyrhachis ornata (Ornate spiny ant) at Acton, ACT - 21 Nov 2018 by TimL
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Acton, ACT - 16 Nov 2018 by RodDeb
Polyrhachis semiaurata (A golden spiny ant) at Acton, ACT - 13 Oct 2018 by TimL
Tachyglossus aculeatus (Short-beaked Echidna) at Hackett, ACT - 6 Oct 2018 by RodDeb
Caligavis chrysops (Yellow-faced Honeyeater) at Acton, ACT - 6 Oct 2018 by RodDeb
Oncopeltus (Oncopeltus) sordidus (Milk vine bug) at Acton, ACT - 22 Sep 2018 by TimL
Crematogaster sp. (genus) (Acrobat ant, Cocktail ant) at Acton, ACT - 19 Sep 2018 by Tim L
Crematogaster sp. (genus) (Acrobat ant, Cocktail ant) at Acton, ACT - 19 Sep 2018 by Tim L
Wallabia bicolor (Swamp Wallaby) at Hackett, ACT - 17 Sep 2018 by AlisonMilton
Eopsaltria australis (Eastern Yellow Robin) at Acton, ACT - 10 Sep 2018 by RodDeb
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 7 Sep 2018 by RodDeb
Pseudocheirus peregrinus (Common Ringtail Possum) at Acton, ACT - 30 Aug 2018 by Tim L
Acanthiza lineata (Striated Thornbill) at Acton, ACT - 16 Aug 2018 by RodDeb
Cormobates leucophaea (White-throated Treecreeper) at Acton, ACT - 16 Aug 2018 by RodDeb
Eopsaltria australis (Eastern Yellow Robin) at Acton, ACT - 14 Aug 2018 by Alison Milton
Neochmia temporalis (Red-browed Finch) at Acton, ACT - 10 Aug 2018 by RodDeb
Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (New Holland Honeyeater) at Acton, ACT - 10 Aug 2018 by RodDeb
Eopsaltria australis (Eastern Yellow Robin) at Acton, ACT - 3 Jul 2018 by Alison Milton
Rhipidura albiscapa (Grey Fantail) at Acton, ACT - 3 Jul 2018 by Alison Milton
Orgyia anartoides (Painted Apple Moth) at Acton, ACT - 6 May 2018 by Christine
Heteronympha paradelpha (Spotted Brown) at Acton, ACT - 17 Feb 2018 by Christine
Synthemis eustalacta (Swamp Tigertail) at Acton, ACT - 17 Feb 2018 by Christine
Eopsaltria australis (Eastern Yellow Robin) at Acton, ACT - 17 Feb 2018 by Christine
Bembix sp. (genus) (Unidentified Bembix sand wasp) at Acton, ACT - 29 Nov 2017 by RodDeb
Exoneura sp. (genus) (A reed bee) at Acton, ACT - 16 Oct 2017 by PeterA
Platycercus elegans (Crimson Rosella) at Acton, ACT - 28 Aug 2017 by Alison Milton
Pachycephala pectoralis (Golden Whistler) at Acton, ACT - 22 Aug 2017 by Alison Milton
Lepiota s.l. at Acton, ACT - 2 May 2017 by Qwerty
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Acton, ACT - 14 Oct 2016 by Ratcliffe
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Eastern Spinebill) at Acton, ACT - 27 Aug 2016 by Alison Milton

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1,001 - 10,000 Abundance
  • 3 Oct 2019 10:21 AM Recorded on
  • TimL Recorded by

Additional information

  • 12mm to 25mm Animal size

Species information

Record quality

  • Overall Fit for scientific/research use
  • 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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