The first Myrmecia gulosa specimen was collected in 1770 by Joseph Banks, making it one of the first Australian insects to be collected and described by a European.
Description
Being one of the larger ant species, adult individuals have been observed to be as long as 15 mm to 30 mm in body length. The head and thorax are typically coloured red-brown; the rear half of the abdomen is black and the mandibles brown-yellow. Adults characteristically possess the long, powerful serrated mandibles and a venom-laced sting that is capable of causing severe pain for a couple of days. Unlike most other ant species, red bull ants lack the ability of chemical senses[citation needed]; however, this is compensated by their extremely keen vision, with which they can spot and respond to intruders up to two metres away.
Their distribution in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia has been verified. Specimen found and collected & documented on 05/02/2024 (Victoria) [3] Based on specimens collected, they are found living in elevations ranging from 121 to 2,000 m (400 to 6,600 ft).[4]M. gulosa ants generally construct small mounds, and they prefer open areas where they are frequently seen foraging. Foraging workers are frequently observed being around burnt areas.[5]
Behaviour
Regarded as a relatively "primitive" ant species, red bull ants are known to be solitary predators that are occasionally uncooperative with one another, whose social behaviour is poorly developed in comparison to more "advanced" species. They are notoriously aggressive hunters able to subdue formidable prey such as bees and other ants. Unable to eat solid food, adult ants feed on juices from the prey insects; the meat of the prey is fed to the colony's larvae. Their diet is supplemented by the workers' own trophic (infertile) eggs, which are commonly fed to the queen and larvae.
Nests are constructed with tunnel systems and may become quite extensive.
