PolyrhachisPolyrhachis ammon (Golden-tailed Spiny Ant) Polyrhachis erato Polyrhachis femorata (Southern Broad-nosed Spiny Ant)

The Polyrhachis group of ants is a genus of formicine ants (Formicinae are a subfamily within the Formicidae containing ants of moderate evolutionary development) found in the Old World with over 600 species.

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), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Golden-tailed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis ammon), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Golden Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis aurea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Golden Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis aurea), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Polyrhachis erato, Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Polyrhachis erato, Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Southern Broad-nosed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis femorata), Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Southern Broad-nosed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis femorata), Bega Valley NSW © Deb Taylor
Polyrhachis phryne, Point Lookout QLD © Tony Eales
Polyrhachis phryne, Point Lookout QLD © Tony Eales
Red-thighed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis rufifemur), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Red-thighed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis rufifemur), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Polyrhachis semiaurata, Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Polyrhachis semiaurata, Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Polyrhachis senilis, Charles Darwin National Park NT © Tony Eales
Polyrhachis senilis, Charles Darwin National Park NT © Tony Eales

  • 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
Southern Broad-nosed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis femorata), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Southern Broad-nosed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis femorata), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor

Footnote & References

  1. Polyrhachis, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyrhachis
  2. Genus: Polyrhachis, Smith, 1857, (Extant: 708 valid species, 82 valid subspecies, Fossil: 1 valid species), AntWeb, Retrieved 1 February 2013, https://www.antweb.org/description.do?name=Polyrhachis&rank=genus&project=allantwebants
  3. Polyrhachis Smith, 1857, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Polyrhachis

PolyrhachisPolyrhachis ammon (Golden-tailed Spiny Ant) Polyrhachis erato Polyrhachis femorata (Southern Broad-nosed Spiny Ant)

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 Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Melophorus bagoti Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull 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) Polyrhachis Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub