Animal Species:Golden-spined Ant
Golden-spined or Golden Ants have a metallic sheen to their body, which is covered in golden hairs.
Golden-spined Ant
Andrew Donnelly
© Australian Museum
Alternative Name/s
Golden Ant
Identification
Golden-spined Ants have a strangely spined thorax, probably used in defence against predators.
Size range
8 mm - 11 mm
Distribution
Golden-spined Ants are found throughout Australia.
Habitat
Found in urban areas, forests and woodlands, heath, Golden-spined Ants often nest in sand at the base of shrubs and trees.
Seasonality
Many Golden-spined Ants stay in their nest during wet or extremely hot periods.
Feeding and Diet
Golden-spined Ants are omnivores. They collect nectar and pollen from a wide range of plants including eucalypts and acacias. They also collect dew from these plants early in the morning. They forage as individuals and can be seen on food-collecting missions at most times and in most weather conditions.
Classification
- Species:
- ammon
- Genus:
- Polyrhachis
- Subfamily:
- Formicinae
- Family:
- Formicidae
- Superfamily:
- Vespoidea
- Suborder:
- Apocrita
- Order:
- Hymenoptera
- Phylum:
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
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Tags ants, insects, invertebrates, identification, wildlife of sydney,