Green-head Ant
Thorax & Back of Head
Ellura
Green-head Ant
Under Shoulder Spur
 
                      
Green-head Ant (Rhytidoponera metallica)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta)
Order: Ant Bee Wasps (Hymenoptera)
Family: Pony Ant (Ant: Formicidae Ectatomminae)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Green-head Ant (Rhytidoponera metallica)
This Photo:     Side fins of Antennal Scrobe

Thank you Kate Sandiford & Grant Wang for confirming the id of this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere
Much smaller than the Titan Pony ant at only ~6.5mm long.
As the "metallica" name suggests a shiny body that reflects greens through to deep purple.
As with all ants, the shape of the head, eye location & shape of the petiole, along with other unique features are required to confirm species id. The lines on the gaster are important to separate out Rhytidoponera species.
This one has the same thick front leg spurs & under shoulder spines as the Titan Pony ant.

Copyright © 2020-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 22-Jan-2020
This species is an Australian Native Species, not listed in the SA Murray Mallee Survey of 2010.