FormicidaeFormicidae Index Ants Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Notoncus spinisquamis Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant) Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Polyrhachis femorata (Southern Broad-nosed Spiny Ant) Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)

Myrmecia rubripes, known commonly as a Bullant or Bull Ant, is native to Australia, found in the south-west region of Western Australia, and some other documented observations in South Australia.

Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant), Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant), Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort

The worker Myrmecia rubripes are between 19-21 mm in length. The antennae, and the lower part of the limbs are a reddish-brown, whilst the mandibles are ochre to yellow in colour. The head, thorax and abdomen is black colour, with the abdomen showing bands around it.

Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant), Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant), Munglinup WA
Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant), Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant), Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant), Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant), Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) nest, Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) nest, Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) nest, Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) nest, Munglinup WA © Jean and Fred Hort

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Verspoidea
  • Family: Formicidae
  • Subfamily: Myrmeciinae
  • Genus: Myrmecia
  • Species: Myrmecia rubripes

Footnote & References

  1. Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant), Photographs © Jean and Fred Hort
  2. Myrmecia rubripes Clark, 1951, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Myrmecia rubripes

FormicidaeFormicidae Index Ants Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Notoncus spinisquamis Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant) Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Polyrhachis femorata (Southern Broad-nosed Spiny Ant) Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)

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