Gold Coast AntsJumping Jack Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta) Polyrhachis
Polyrhachis includes some species found here in Australia, including those pictured here in the Gold Coast, on the eastern region of Australia.
The genus Polyrhachis refers to a a group of formicine ants that are found in the “Old World”. Whilst this term “Old World” (latin Mundus Vetus), originating in Europe (c 1493) applies to Afro-Eurasia, it has been noted that Australia is neither Old World nor New World.4
With over 600 described species of Polyrhachis the genus is yet to be comprehensively resolved, containing many varied species tht include an array of nesting types ranging from terrestrial, soil based nests to arboreal nests.
The common name for Polyrhachis as a group is Spiny Ants.
Golden-tailed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis ammon)
Golden Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis aurea or Polyrhachis vermiculosa)
Red-thighed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis rufifemur)
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Superfamily: Verspoidea
- Family: Formicidae
- Subfamily: Formicinae
- Tribe: Camponotini
- Genus: Polyrhachis
- Subgenus:
- Polyrhachis (Campomyrma) Wheeler, 1911
- Polyrhachis (Chariomyrma) Forel, 1915
- Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) Forel, 1915
- Polyrhachis (Hagiomyrma) Wheeler, 1911
- Polyrhachis (Hedomyrma) Forel, 1915
- Polyrhachis (Hirtomyrma) Kohout, 2010
- Polyrhachis (Myrma) Billberg, 1820
- Polyrhachis (Myrmatopa) Forel, 1915
- Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) Forel, 1915
- Polyrhachis (Myrmothrinax) Forel, 1915
- Polyrhachis (Polyrhachis) Smith, 1857
Footnote & References
- Polyrhachis, Photographs © Stefan Jones
- Many thanks for IDs to Phil Kielly, member of Entomology Australia “Invertebratology”, https://www.facebook.com/groups/507004496955277/
- Polyrhachis Smith, 1857, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/e83a17e1-d394-4b7b-a8ea-5827c3b839dc
- Old World, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World
Gold Coast AntsJumping Jack Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta) Polyrhachis
Gold Coast InsectsAntlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera) Ants Bees Beetles Bugs (Hemiptera & Heteroptera) Buterflies & Moths Flies (Diptera) Wasps
QueenslandQueensland Fauna Gold Coast Region Lamington National Park Southern Downs QLD