Iridomyrmex purpureus

2 Meat Ant at Hughes, ACT

Iridomyrmex purpureus at Hughes, ACT - 29 Oct 2020
Iridomyrmex purpureus at Hughes, ACT - 29 Oct 2020
Iridomyrmex purpureus at Hughes, ACT - 29 Oct 2020
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Identification history

Iridomyrmex purpureus 2 Nov 2020 JonLewis
Iridomyrmex purpureus 2 Nov 2020 JonLewis
Unidentified 1 Nov 2020 kieranh

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User's notes

Winged ants emerging amidst an agitated swarm of workers. Party time in bird world: noisy miners, olive backed oriole and satin bower birds feeding at different ant nests. A noisy group of >10 Pied Currawongs seemed to be picking-off flying prey near a couple nests.

1 comment

JonLewis wrote:
   2 Nov 2020
Thanks for posting this Kieran. Great observations about the predation of the alates by birds. There probably are published observations like this but they are not common. Cheers, Jon

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Nearby sightings

Page 3 of 4 - image sightings only

Pachycephala rufiventris (Rufous Whistler) at Hughes, ACT - 6 Feb 2020 by LisaH
Diplacodes bipunctata (Wandering Percher) at Hughes, ACT - 3 Feb 2020 by LisaH
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus (Satin Bowerbird) at Hughes, ACT - 24 Jan 2020 by JackyF
Phaps chalcoptera (Common Bronzewing) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Dec 2019 by LisaH
Salticidae (family) (Unidentified Jumping spider) at Hughes, ACT - 23 Nov 2019 by LisaH
Heliothis punctifera (Lesser Budworm) at Hughes, ACT - 23 Nov 2019 by LisaH
Zosterops lateralis (Silvereye) at Deakin, ACT - 3 Nov 2019 by TomT
Pardalotus punctatus (Spotted Pardalote) at Deakin, ACT - 3 Nov 2019 by TomT
Apis mellifera (European honey bee) at Hughes, ACT - 31 Oct 2019 by JackyF
Fulgoroidea sp. (superfamily) (Unidentified fulgoroid planthopper) at Hughes, ACT - 30 Oct 2019 by JackyF
Corcorax melanorhamphos (White-winged Chough) at Hughes, ACT - 14 Oct 2019 by JackyF
Haliastur sphenurus (Whistling Kite) at Deakin, ACT - 1 Oct 2019 by TomT
Exocarpos cupressiformis (Cherry Ballart) at Hughes, ACT - 21 Sep 2019 by JackyF
Oriolus sagittatus (Olive-backed Oriole) at Hughes, ACT - 21 Sep 2019 by JackyF
Colluricincla harmonica (Grey Shrikethrush) at Deakin, ACT - 21 Sep 2019 by JackyF
Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Deakin, ACT - 18 Sep 2019 by JackyF
Corcorax melanorhamphos (White-winged Chough) at Hughes, ACT - 18 Sep 2019 by JackyF
Smicrornis brevirostris (Weebill) at Deakin, ACT - 13 Sep 2019 by BIrdsinCanberra
Acanthiza lineata (Striated Thornbill) at Hughes, ACT - 13 Sep 2019 by JackyF
Acanthiza reguloides (Buff-rumped Thornbill) at Hughes, ACT - 13 Sep 2019 by JackyF
Rhipidura albiscapa (Grey Fantail) at Hughes, ACT - 13 Sep 2019 by JackyF
Clematis leptophylla (Small-leaf Clematis, Old Man's Beard) at Hughes, ACT - 25 Aug 2019 by JackyF
Smicrornis brevirostris (Weebill) at Deakin, ACT - 1 Aug 2019 by TomT
Melichrus urceolatus (Urn Heath) at Deakin, ACT - 28 Jul 2019 by JackyF
Pachycephala pectoralis (Golden Whistler) at Red Hill Nature Reserve - 23 Jul 2019 by LisaH
Pardalotus striatus (Striated Pardalote) at Red Hill Nature Reserve - 22 Jul 2019 by LisaH
Pardalotus punctatus (Spotted Pardalote) at Deakin, ACT - 19 Jul 2019 by BIrdsinCanberra
Smicrornis brevirostris (Weebill) at Deakin, ACT - 19 Jul 2019 by BIrdsinCanberra
Pardalotus striatus (Striated Pardalote) at Deakin, ACT - 19 Jul 2019 by BIrdsinCanberra
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus (Satin Bowerbird) at Hughes, ACT - 14 Jul 2019 by BIrdsinCanberra
Eucalyptus polyanthemos (Red Box) at Deakin, ACT - 26 Jun 2019 by JackyF
Laetiporus portentosus (White Punk) at Hughes, ACT - 20 Jun 2019 by LisaH
Billardiera heterophylla (Western Australian Bluebell Creeper) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Jun 2019 by KL
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa (Yellow-rumped Thornbill) at Deakin, ACT - 8 Jun 2019 by LisaH
Malurus cyaneus (Superb Fairywren) at Deakin, ACT - 31 May 2019 by TomT
Neochmia temporalis (Red-browed Finch) at Deakin, ACT - 31 May 2019 by TomT
Petroica boodang (Scarlet Robin) at Deakin, ACT - 31 May 2019 by TomT
Malurus cyaneus (Superb Fairywren) at Deakin, ACT - 26 May 2019 by TomT
Cryptandra amara (Bitter Cryptandra) at Hughes, ACT - 22 May 2019 by JackyF
Melichrus urceolatus (Urn Heath) at Deakin, ACT - 16 May 2019 by JackyF
Tasmanicosa sp. (genus) (Unidentified Tasmanicosa wolf spider) at Deakin, ACT - 6 Apr 2019 by BIrdsinCanberra
Platycercus eximius (Eastern Rosella) at Deakin, ACT - 29 Mar 2019 by LisaH
Calotis lappulacea (Yellow Burr Daisy) at Deakin, ACT - 24 Mar 2019 by JackyF
Hyalarcta huebneri (Leafy Case Moth) at Deakin, ACT - 22 Mar 2019 by JackyF
Alisterus scapularis (Australian King-Parrot) at Deakin, ACT - 22 Mar 2019 by JackyF
Glycine clandestina (Twining Glycine) at Deakin, ACT - 22 Mar 2019 by JackyF
Papilio anactus (Dainty Swallowtail) at Deakin, ACT - 19 Mar 2019 by JackyF
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus (Satin Bowerbird) at Hughes, ACT - 18 Mar 2019 by JackyF
Pachycephala pectoralis (Golden Whistler) at Hughes, ACT - 17 Mar 2019 by JackyF
Lasiocampidae (family) (Snout moth) at Deakin, ACT - 17 Mar 2019 by JackyF
Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Hughes, ACT - 14 Mar 2019 by LisaH
Rhipidura albiscapa (Grey Fantail) at Deakin, ACT - 8 Mar 2019 by LisaH
Alisterus scapularis (Australian King-Parrot) at Hughes, ACT - 2 Feb 2019 by BIrdsinCanberra
Rhipidura albiscapa (Grey Fantail) at Undefined, ACT - 18 Jan 2019 by BIrdsinCanberra
Solanum cinereum (Narrawa Burr) at Hughes, ACT - 13 Jan 2019 by KL
Zosterops lateralis (Silvereye) at Undefined, ACT - 9 Jan 2019 by TomT
Platycercus elegans (Crimson Rosella) at Hughes, ACT - 8 Jan 2019 by JackyF
Wallabia bicolor (Swamp Wallaby) at Hughes, ACT - 3 Jan 2019 by TomT
Bursaria spinosa (Native Blackthorn, Sweet Bursaria) at Hughes, ACT - 16 Dec 2018 by JackyF
Neochmia temporalis (Red-browed Finch) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Nov 2018 by JackyF
Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustissima (Hop Bush) at Deakin, ACT - 18 Nov 2018 by KL
Geranium solanderi var. solanderi (Native Geranium) at Deakin, ACT - 17 Nov 2018 by KL
Goodenia pinnatifida (Scrambled Eggs) at Hughes, ACT - 17 Nov 2018 by KL
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Hughes, ACT - 16 Nov 2018 by BIrdsinCanberra
Oriolus sagittatus (Olive-backed Oriole) at Hughes, ACT - 11 Nov 2018 by JackyF
Asperula conferta (Common Woodruff) at Red Hill Nature Reserve - 21 Oct 2018 by KL
Vittadinia cuneata var. cuneata (Fuzzy New Holland Daisy) at Deakin, ACT - 13 Oct 2018 by KL
Asperula conferta (Common Woodruff) at Deakin, ACT - 13 Oct 2018 by KL
Bulbine bulbosa (Golden Lily) at Deakin, ACT - 13 Oct 2018 by KL
Melichrus urceolatus (Urn Heath) at Hughes, ACT - 5 Aug 2018 by KL
Melichrus urceolatus (Urn Heath) at Hughes, ACT - 19 Jul 2018 by JackyF
Chelepteryx collesi (White-stemmed Gum Moth) at Hughes, ACT - 25 Jun 2018 by JackyF
Iridomyrmex purpureus (Meat Ant) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Feb 2018 by JackyF
Ninox boobook (Southern Boobook) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Feb 2018 by KL
Amyema miquelii (Box Mistletoe) at Hughes, ACT - 11 Feb 2018 by JackyF
Uromycladium sp. (A gall forming rust fungus) at Hughes, ACT - 11 Feb 2018 by JackyF
Bursaria spinosa (Native Blackthorn, Sweet Bursaria) at Hughes, ACT - 11 Feb 2018 by JackyF
Chrysocephalum semipapposum (Clustered Everlasting) at Hughes, ACT - 30 Jan 2018 by JackyF
Podargus strigoides (Tawny Frogmouth) at Hughes, ACT - 14 Dec 2017 by KL
Tricoryne elatior (Yellow Rush Lily) at Hughes, ACT - 11 Dec 2017 by JackyF
Goodenia pinnatifida (Scrambled Eggs) at Hughes, ACT - 3 Nov 2017 by JackyF
Pyrrholaemus sagittatus (Speckled Warbler) at Hughes, ACT - 30 Aug 2017 by roymcd

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 4 - 15 Abundance
  • 29 Oct 2020 03:56 PM Recorded on
  • kieranh Recorded by

Additional information

  • 5mm to 12mm Animal size
  • Breeding behaviour Breeding behaviour

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
2,153,789 sightings of 19,949 species in 6,493 locations from 11,438 contributors
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