FormicidaeFormicidae Index Ants More Ants in Australia Caste Systems, Colonies and Anthills Invasive Ants in Australia Camponotus Ants Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Camponotus innexus (Antarctic Sugar Ant) Chelaner kiliani (Mono Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Dolichoderus scabridus Iridomyrmex purpureus Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Melophorus bagoti Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia forficata (Inchman Ant) Myrmecia gulosa (Red Bull Ant) Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia mandibularis Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Myrmecia tarsata (Australian Jumper Ant) Notoncus gilberti Notoncus spinisquamis Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant) Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Opisthopsis rufithorax Polyrhachis Pseudoneoponera sublaevis Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)
Iridomyrmex purpureus is commonly known as Meat Ant, Southern Meat Ant or Gravel Ant, and is a species of ant endemic to Australia, occuring in almost all states and territories except for Tasmania.
Belonging to the genus Iridomyrmex (that are described as Rainbow, Tyrant, and Meat Ants), this species is within the Meat Ants Complex Iridomyrmex purpureus. A dominant species, they are known to form large pebble mounds with multiple nest holes and if disturbed, worker ants will stream out of the holes to attack any thing that disturbs their nest.
A medium species, that are characterised by their dark-bluish body and red head, measuring 6–12 mm. The queens are the larger, measuring 12.7 mm and are mostly black. The iridescence in the workers range from green or blue to plain green and purple, varying in different body parts and castes.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Superfamily: Verspoidea
- Family: Formicidae
- Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
- Tribe: Leptomyrmecini
- Genus: Iridomyrmex
- Species: Iridomyrmex purpureus
Footnote & References
- Iridomyrmex purpureus on the flowers of Hakea laurina, Photographs © Terry Dunham
- Iridomyrmex purpureus (Smith, 1858), Meat Ant, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Iridomyrmex purpureus
FormicidaeFormicidae Index Ants More Ants in Australia Caste Systems, Colonies and Anthills Invasive Ants in Australia Camponotus Ants Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Camponotus innexus (Antarctic Sugar Ant) Chelaner kiliani (Mono Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Dolichoderus scabridus Iridomyrmex purpureus Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Melophorus bagoti Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia forficata (Inchman Ant) Myrmecia gulosa (Red Bull Ant) Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia mandibularis Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Myrmecia tarsata (Australian Jumper Ant) Notoncus gilberti Notoncus spinisquamis Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant) Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Opisthopsis rufithorax Polyrhachis Pseudoneoponera sublaevis Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)
InsectsInsects Life Cycle… Bees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Mantodea Moths Neuroptera Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub
