Iridomyrmex purpureus

Meat Ant at Hughes, ACT

Iridomyrmex purpureus at Hughes, ACT - 13 Feb 2021
Iridomyrmex purpureus at Hughes, ACT - 13 Feb 2021
Iridomyrmex purpureus at Hughes, ACT - 13 Feb 2021
Iridomyrmex purpureus at Hughes, ACT - 13 Feb 2021
Iridomyrmex purpureus at Hughes, ACT - 13 Feb 2021
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Identification history

Iridomyrmex purpureus 14 Feb 2021 JonLewis
Unidentified 14 Feb 2021 LisaH

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User's notes

Drama on the eucalypt sapling! These ants were monstering a beetle - they were curious, touching and moving in on the beetle, then retreating, until eventually leaving it alone. The beetle tried to skedaddle, but it had tiny legs and they were much bigger, so on many occasions one form of defense seemed to be going around in circles (along with a hardish shell.)

2 comments

JonLewis wrote:
   14 Feb 2021
Nice observation Lisa. Cheers, Jon
LisaH wrote:
   14 Feb 2021
Thank you. :)

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Nearby sightings

Page 2 of 3 - image sightings only

Austrostipa sp. (A Corkscrew Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Oct 2020 by TomT
Austrostipa scabra (Corkscrew Grass, Slender Speargrass) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Oct 2020 by TomT
Austrostipa scabra (Corkscrew Grass, Slender Speargrass) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Oct 2020 by TomT
Linaria arvensis (Corn Toadflax) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Oct 2020 by TomT
Wahlenbergia sp. (Bluebell) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Oct 2020 by TomT
Avena sp. (Wild Oats) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Oct 2020 by TomT
Austrostipa sp. (A Corkscrew Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 22 Oct 2020 by TomT
Wahlenbergia capillaris (Tufted Bluebell) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Oct 2020 by KL
Vittadinia cuneata var. cuneata (Fuzzy New Holland Daisy) at Hughes, ACT - 10 Oct 2020 by LisaH
Silene gallica var. quinquevulnera (Five-wounded Catchfly) at Hughes, ACT - 10 Oct 2020 by LisaH
Wahlenbergia sp. (Bluebell) at Hughes, ACT - 10 Oct 2020 by LisaH
Lentinus arcularius (Fringed Polypore) at Deakin, ACT - 9 Oct 2020 by LisaH
Westringia eremicola (Slender Western Rosemary) at Hughes, ACT - 6 Oct 2020 by KL
Hypochaeris glabra (Smooth Catsear) at Hughes, ACT - 28 Sep 2020 by LisaH
Ocystola paulinella (A Concealer Moth) at Hughes, ACT - 28 Sep 2020 by LisaH
Entomyzon cyanotis (Blue-faced Honeyeater) at Hughes, ACT - 5 Sep 2020 by LisaH
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hughes, ACT - 29 Aug 2020 by KL
Cymbonotus sp. (preissianus or lawsonianus) (Bears Ears) at Hughes, ACT - 31 Jul 2020 by KL
Plantago varia (Native Plaintain) at Hughes, ACT - 31 Jul 2020 by KL
Cynoglossum australe (Australian Forget-me-not) at Deakin, ACT - 27 Jun 2020 by KL
Heterodea sp. (A lichen) at Hughes, ACT - 21 Jun 2020 by KL
Erodium botrys (Long Storksbill) at Hughes, ACT - 20 Jun 2020 by KL
Paronychia brasiliana (Brazilian Whitlow) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Jun 2020 by KL
Salvia verbenaca var. verbenaca (Wild Sage) at Hughes, ACT - 14 Jun 2020 by KL
Utetheisa lotrix (Crotalaria Moth) at Hughes, ACT - 8 Jun 2020 by KL
Calolampra sp. (genus) (Bark cockroach) at Hughes, ACT - 31 May 2020 by KL
Chloris truncata (Windmill Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Rytidosperma sp. (Wallaby Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Dysphania pumilio (Small Crumbweed) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Microlaena stipoides (Weeping Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Austrostipa sp. (A Corkscrew Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Bossiaea buxifolia (Matted Bossiaea) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Austrostipa scabra (Corkscrew Grass, Slender Speargrass) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Erodium crinitum (Native Crowfoot) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Vittadinia muelleri (Narrow-leafed New Holland Daisy) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Chloris virgata (Feathertop Rhodes Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Lomandra filiformis (Wattle Mat-rush) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Linaria pelisseriana (Pelisser's Toadflax) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Aristida ramosa (Purple Wire Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 30 May 2020 by TomT
Linaria pelisseriana (Pelisser's Toadflax) at Hughes, ACT - 28 May 2020 by KL
Senecio sp. (A Fireweed) at Hughes, ACT - 28 May 2020 by KL
Linaria pelisseriana (Pelisser's Toadflax) at Hughes, ACT - 17 May 2020 by KL
Acacia cultriformis (Knife Leaf Wattle) at Deakin, ACT - 15 May 2020 by jennyt
Solanum cinereum (Narrawa Burr) at Hughes, ACT - 12 May 2020 by KL
Euphorbia lathyris (Caper Spurge) at Hughes, ACT - 10 May 2020 by jennyt
Crassula helmsii (Swamp Stonecrop) at Hughes, ACT - 9 May 2020 by KL
Juncus sp. (A Rush) at Hughes, ACT - 9 May 2020 by KL
Epilobium sp. (A Willow Herb) at Hughes, ACT - 9 May 2020 by KL
Cormocephalus sp.(genus) (Scolopendrid Centipede) at Hughes, ACT - 9 May 2020 by KL
Glycine tabacina (Variable Glycine) at Deakin, ACT - 8 May 2020 by KL
Austrostipa scabra (Corkscrew Grass, Slender Speargrass) at Hughes, ACT - 20 Apr 2020 by KL
Einadia nutans subsp. nutans (Climbing Saltbush) at Hughes, ACT - 20 Apr 2020 by KL
Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort) at Hughes, ACT - 13 Apr 2020 by KL
Convolvulus angustissimus subsp. angustissimus (Australian Bindweed) at Hughes, ACT - 5 Apr 2020 by KL
Tricoryne elatior (Yellow Rush Lily) at Hughes, ACT - 5 Apr 2020 by KL
Wahlenbergia sp. (Bluebell) at Hughes, ACT - 31 Mar 2020 by jennyt
Wahlenbergia sp. (Bluebell) at Hughes, ACT - 31 Mar 2020 by jennyt
Wahlenbergia sp. (Bluebell) at Hughes, ACT - 31 Mar 2020 by jennyt
Vittadinia cuneata var. cuneata (Fuzzy New Holland Daisy) at Hughes, ACT - 29 Mar 2020 by jennyt
Wahlenbergia luteola (Yellowish Bluebell) at Hughes, ACT - 29 Mar 2020 by jennyt
Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Common Everlasting) at Hughes, ACT - 29 Mar 2020 by jennyt
Wahlenbergia sp. (Bluebell) at Hughes, ACT - 29 Mar 2020 by jennyt
Oxalis thompsoniae (Fluffy-fruit Wood-sorrel) at Hughes, ACT - 29 Mar 2020 by jennyt
Tricoryne elatior (Yellow Rush Lily) at Hughes, ACT - 29 Mar 2020 by jennyt
Amanita sp. (Amanita sp.) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Mar 2020 by KL
Convolvulus angustissimus subsp. angustissimus (Australian Bindweed) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Mar 2020 by jennyt
Trametes (old Pycnoporus sp.) (Scarlet Bracket) at Hughes, ACT - 17 Feb 2020 by jennyt
Lentinus arcularius (Fringed Polypore) at Hughes, ACT - 16 Feb 2020 by jennyt
Lentinus arcularius (Fringed Polypore) at Hughes, ACT - 16 Feb 2020 by jennyt
Convolvulus angustissimus subsp. angustissimus (Australian Bindweed) at Hughes, ACT - 13 Nov 2019 by kieranh
Convolvulus angustissimus subsp. angustissimus (Australian Bindweed) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Nov 2019 by JackyF
Senecio quadridentatus (Cotton Fireweed) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Nov 2019 by JackyF
Senecio quadridentatus (Cotton Fireweed) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Nov 2019 by JackyF
Daviesia mimosoides (Bitter Pea) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Oct 2019 by KL
Callitris endlicheri (Black Cypress Pine) at Deakin, ACT - 12 Jun 2019 by kieranh
Dacelo novaeguineae (Laughing Kookaburra) at Deakin, ACT - 8 Jun 2019 by LisaH
Dacelo novaeguineae (Laughing Kookaburra) at Hughes, ACT - 1 Jun 2019 by LisaH
Chenopodium sp. at Deakin, ACT - 20 May 2019 by ruthkerruish
Eragrostis parviflora (Weeping Love Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 15 May 2019 by ruthkerruish
Bothriochloa macra (Red Grass, Red-leg Grass) at Hughes, ACT - 15 May 2019 by ruthkerruish
Callistemon sp. (A Bottlebrush) at Hughes, ACT - 15 May 2019 by ruthkerruish
Verbascum thapsus subsp. thapsus (Great Mullein, Aaron's Rod) at Hughes, ACT - 15 May 2019 by ruthkerruish
Wahlenbergia capillaris (Tufted Bluebell) at Hughes, ACT - 15 May 2019 by ruthkerruish
Pistacia chinensis (Chinese Pistachio) at Deakin, ACT - 15 May 2019 by ruthkerruish
Dysphania pumilio (Small Crumbweed) at Hughes, ACT - 14 May 2019 by ruthkerruish
Opuntia ficus-indica (Indian Fig, Spineless Cactus) at Deakin, ACT - 8 May 2019 by kieranh
Apina callisto (Pasture Day Moth) at Hughes, ACT - 19 Apr 2019 by LisaH
Acacia baileyana (Cootamundra Wattle, Golden Mimosa) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Apr 2019 by ruthkerruish
Erigeron sp. (Fleabanes) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Apr 2019 by ruthkerruish
Dichelachne sp. (Plume Grasses) at Hughes, ACT - 12 Apr 2019 by ruthkerruish
Eragrostis curvula (African Lovegrass) at Hughes, ACT - 10 Apr 2019 by ruthkerruish
Psephotus haematonotus (Red-rumped Parrot) at Hughes, ACT - 20 Jan 2019 by LisaH
Psephotus haematonotus (Red-rumped Parrot) at Hughes, ACT - 18 Jan 2019 by LisaH
Platycercus eximius (Eastern Rosella) at Hughes, ACT - 17 Jan 2019 by LisaH
Westringia eremicola (Slender Western Rosemary) at Deakin, ACT - 13 Jan 2019 by KL
Opuntia elata (A Prickly Pear) at Deakin, ACT - 14 Dec 2018 by RWPurdie
Xerochrysum viscosum (Sticky Everlasting) at Hughes, ACT - 10 Nov 2018 by KL
Acacia cultriformis (Knife Leaf Wattle) at Deakin, ACT - 20 Oct 2018 by KL
Opuntia sp. (Prickly Pear) at Hughes, ACT - 19 Oct 2018 by ACTParks-InvasivePlantsTeam
Dacelo novaeguineae (Laughing Kookaburra) at Hughes, ACT - 26 Sep 2018 by LisaH

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 16 - 100 Abundance
  • 13 Feb 2021 02:18 PM Recorded on
  • LisaH Recorded by

Additional information

  • Eucalypt Associated plant
  • Beetle Associated Insect
  • 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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