24 December 2008

Quite a large ant in Kambah

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    Quite big ant in Kambah

In view of the pathological interest the RiotACT Community takes in all forms of Formicidae, here is my contribution to the influx of giant ants [complete with a coin for scale]. While not 4-5 cm and thick as my thumb, this ant has the value of having been photographed. She and her sisters don’t seem very fierce.

Who’s seen and photographed a bigger local ant?

[ED (Kramer) – Who would have thought RiotACT would become Canberra’s leading authority on ants?]

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peterh said :

I thought it was shard-on-ay….

You would think ….

; )

Granny said :

I’m rather good at scoffing, aren’t I?

*chuckle*

I do believe you really, but then I believed Overheard last night when he told me how my wine should be pronounced as ‘car-donnay’ ….

I thought it was shard-on-ay….

and how do you know how big poptop’s ants are?

I’m rather good at scoffing, aren’t I?

*chuckle*

I do believe you really, but then I believed Overheard last night when he told me how my wine should be pronounced as ‘car-donnay’ ….

Granny said :

Poptop’s ants are definitely the biggest!

: )

4 – 5 cm and thick as my thumb … missing local children and cats get dragged into undergrowth ….

*chuckle*

You may scoff granny, but the beast-ant I saw before christmas is out there somewhere…

Poptop’s ants are definitely the biggest!

: )

4 – 5 cm and thick as my thumb … missing local children and cats get dragged into undergrowth ….

*chuckle*

farout said :

I once strayed into Kambah. Didnt notice the ants but saw some rather large bogans.

You must have been either on the Marconi side of Drakeford Dr. or the Tuggeranong end of the Kambah playing fields:)

I am beginning to believe my ants are the biggest!

farout said :

I once strayed into Kambah. Didnt notice the ants but saw some rather large bogans.

damn! been spotted. my ant nest with the oversized ants has become a smoking hole in the ground. kero works a treat. (only because the wife was freaking out)

Fox-cleaning ants have been found again, I shall take the hound for a walk and get some photos with a 50c piece for comparison.

I once strayed into Kambah. Didnt notice the ants but saw some rather large bogans.

okay, my fox-cleaner ants have apparently been hit by the grass mowers and now I have no idea where the entrance to their lair is. But if any local children go missing or cats get dragged into the undergrowth, I’ll get photos.

Utah, I already said. It’s a Banded Sugar Ant. They’re quite common: http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_ants/BandedSugarAnt.htm 🙂

Well yesterday I found a European Wasp at least an inch (2.5cm) long dragging a dead Huntsman at least twice its size – across my kitchen floor! I assume the wasp was cruising by and spotted the spider on my back deck, swooped for the kill, and then decided my open door led to a parking/resting/feeding place.

I have a hunch that’s a wingless wasp, not an ant.

Any entomologists want to weigh in?

S.A. Mulder said :

This wouldn’t be the first time an ant of this size has turned up. There were stories from the amazon of a mythical ant-like creature that would stalk the forest at night and attack tribesmen and women when they let their guard down. They would call it the mayobiller. Perhaps what we’re seeing here is some sort of baby form of the mayobiller?

Gees, I love a challenge! Bring it on LOL! Makes the European wasp sound positively tame by comparison

This wouldn’t be the first time an ant of this size has turned up. There were stories from the amazon of a mythical ant-like creature that would stalk the forest at night and attack tribesmen and women when they let their guard down. They would call it the mayobiller. Perhaps what we’re seeing here is some sort of baby form of the mayobiller?

aah, so these are what my ants are, not bullants… and they’re so friendly they gave me a chrissy present and babysat while i nipped out to the pub..! ; )

I don’t care what they eat! If they come my way, it’s likely to be their last Christmas!

Quite common around Canberra is the Sugar Ant (Camponotus consobrinus). I think this is an example of one. Like someone else said, it looks like a small bulldog ant (Myrmecia spp), except Sugar Ants have tiny nippers and are quite friendly.

Vic Bitterman12:56 pm 24 Dec 08

They look like the ants we have in our backyard. Not bullants as they have relatively tiny nippers and are harmless.

tylersmayhem12:38 pm 24 Dec 08

I hope that ant had big pockets. He’s RICH!

Pommy bastard12:29 pm 24 Dec 08

Skidbladnir said :

I will one-up you sometime shortly.
The ones I have in mind can clean a fox skull in a few days, and live right next to the Parkway.

Will they do a contract clean on my house for Xmas?

Avast Poptop. That’s just a wee bairn compared to the 4-5cm, six-legged beast I encountered in travels last weekend. I might go back to where I flicked it off the car and look for it. Shouldn’t be too hard to find, it’s probaby being used a speed-hump or a roundabout.

No one is bigger than 50 Cent!!!!

Skidbladnir said :

I will one-up you sometime shortly.
The ones I have in mind can clean a fox skull in a few days, and live right next to the Parkway.

I thought that was the residents in curtin?

I will one-up you sometime shortly.
The ones I have in mind can clean a fox skull in a few days, and live right next to the Parkway.

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