Iridomyrmex sp. (genus)
2 Ant at Cook, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) | JonLewis | 17 Dec 2021 | |
| Unverified | CathB | 16 Dec 2021 |
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User's notes
Carrying pollinia of Microtis parviflora
3 comments
17 Dec 2021
Hi Cath, this looks to be an Iridomyrmex, but I can't be sure which - possibly Iridomyrmex niger. The published research by Peakalll & Beattie in 1989 (link to the paper below) suggests that the main ant pollinating this orchid is Iridomyrmex gracilis (now called I. bicknelli) but the ant in your photos doesn't look quite right. Great to see the photo with the pollen granule attached! Cheers, Jon
https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2389565.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3Af44015e79b949370da7e08425c9a4e4c
https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2389565.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3Af44015e79b949370da7e08425c9a4e4c
20 Dec 2021
Thanks for the reference, Jon. I have also seen Crematogaster with pollen on the same species of orchid (sighting 4354296). Ants are frequent visitors to Microtis flowers, and are thought to be attracted by nectar. It's possible that a number of different species could pick up pollinia as they feed and then carry them to other flowers.
23 Dec 2021
Thanks Cath - that's very interesting. I suppose the ant just has to be about the right size and have the right shaped head!
Location information
- Coordinates 149.075371-35.267615
- Maps Aranda Bushland
- Places Cook, ACT
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 9 Dec 2021 03:42 PM Recorded on
- CathB Recorded by
- Microtis parviflora Associated plant
- Less than 5mm Animal size
Collections
- CathB Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Insects
Species information
- Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) Scientific name
- Ant Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1600.7m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
5 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Description
- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location