Iridomyrmex purpureus

Meat Ant at Wodonga, VIC

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Identification history

	Iridomyrmex purpureus	11 Mar 2021	MichaelMulvaney
	Unverified	7 Mar 2021	KylieWaldon

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User's notes

These ants were running up the trunk and along the branches of this spindly young gum tree but didn't appear to be eating anything inparticular.

2 comments

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

11 Mar 2021

They were probably tending the leafhopper also present in your photo. They protect the leafhoppers from predators and parasites, stroke them with their antennas and in return get to eat the sugary shit

KylieWaldon wrote:

11 Mar 2021

ohhh. I thought the leaf hopper was doing a good job of hiding from the ants. I did see the passing ant stop above and look like it was feeling below, but then it quickly moved on. I didn't realise the leafhoppers were so small. No wonder I haven't seen one up till now!

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Location information

Sighting information

15 Abundance
7 Mar 2021 10:24 AM Recorded on
KylieWaldon Recorded by
Collections
KylieWaldon Albury, Wodonga NatureMapr Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Insects

Species information

Iridomyrmex purpureus Scientific name
Meat Ant Common name
Not Sensitive
Local native
Non-invasive or negligible
Up to 963.87m Recorded at altitude
700 images trained Machine learning
External link More information

Record quality

Images or audio
More than one media file
Verified by an expert moderator
Nearby sighting(s) of same species
GPS evidence of location
Description
Additional attributes

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Queensland

Northern Territory

Western Australia

South Australia

Victoria

Tasmania