Meranoplus sp. (genus)

Shield Ant at Cook, ACT

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Identification history

	Meranoplus sp. (genus)	19 Jan 2020	JonLewis
	Meranoplus sp. (genus)	19 Jan 2020	CathB

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User's notes

A different Meranoplus, larger and hairier than the all-red ones usually seen. They appeared to be excavating a nest and were very well camouflaged by the dirt sticking to them. The abundance is only a guess - there was much movement in and out of the hole as they deposited their loads. (I have only ever seen the red ones singly, and never at a hole.)

1 comment

JonLewis wrote:

20 Jan 2020

Great photos Cath, and great to see the nest entrance. There is at least two species at Mulligans Flat / Goorooyaroo, but there may be more. Cheers, Jon

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Location information

Coordinates 149.072367 -35.267634
Altitude 655.1m
Maps Mount Painter
Places Cook, ACT

Sighting information

16 - 100 Abundance
18 Jan 2020 06:02 PM Recorded on
CathB Recorded by
Collections
Insects Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) CathB Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr

Additional information

Less than 5mm Animal size

Species information

Meranoplus sp. (genus) Scientific name
Shield Ant Common name
Not Sensitive
Local native
Non-invasive or negligible
Up to 690.3m Recorded at altitude
Machine learning
External link More information

Record quality

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

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Queensland

Northern Territory

Western Australia

South Australia

Victoria

Tasmania