Austroponera castanea (Mayr 1865)
In this section
-
Ants of New Zealand
- Amblyopone australis
- Austroponera castanea
- Austroponera castaneicolor
- Cardiocondyla minutior
- Chelaner antarcticus
- Chelaner smithii
- Discothyrea antarctica
- Doleromyrma darwiniana
- Fulakora saundersi
- Heteroponera brouni
- Huberia brounii
- Huberia striata
- Hypoponera eduardi
- Hypoponera punctatissima
- Iridomyrmex undescribed
- Linepithema humile
- Mayriella abstinens
- Monomorium antipodum
- Monomorium floricola
- Monomorium pharaonis
- Monomorium sydneyense
- Nylanderia spp
- Ochetellus glaber
- Orectognathus antennatus
- Pheidole megacephala
- Pheidole proxima
- Pheidole rugosula
- Pheidole vigilans
- Ponera leae
- Prolasius advena
- Rhytidoponera chalybaea
- Rhytidoponera metallica
- Strumigenys perplexa
- Strumigenys xenos
- Technomyrmex jocosus
- Tetramorium bicarinatum
- Tetramorium grassii
- References
Classification
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Ponerinae |
Tribe: | Ponerini |
Genus: | Austroponera |
Species: | castanea |
Common name
None
Synonyms (Valentine & Walker 1991)
Pachycondyla castanea Mayr, Ponera castanea Mayr, Euponera (Mesoponera) castanea var. striata Stitz, Euponera (Mesponera) castanea (Mayr), Euponera castanea (Mayr), Tonera castanea (Mayr), Ponera (Mesoponera) castanea (Mayr), Mesoponera castanea (Mayr)
General Description
Identification
This species shows considerable variation across its range. The mandibles are triangular with numerous small teeth along the inner margins; the mandibles touch the front of the clypeus when closed; the single node of the petiole has distinct front, top and rear faces; each tibia of the hind legs has two spurs, one large and comb-like and one small and simple.
Diagnostic features of the worker
Length 4.9–6.1 mm; antennae 12-segmented; eyes with about 30 ommatidia; mandibles long with about 10 teeth; metanotal groove deeply impressed; colour of head, body reddish to dark brown, antennae, legs yellowish-brown.
Biology
A. castanea has wingless and worker-like (ergatoid) queens, whereas A. castaneicolor has winged (alate) queens (Wilson & Taylor 1967). A. castanea seems to prefer nesting in shady native forests. Both species exploit the same nest sites — in soil under stones or in rotting logs. Highly predatory, they use an effective sting to immobilise prey.
Commonly sampled in pitfall traps, litter and on sweet baits.