Green-head Ant: Dorsal

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:

Dorsal

Thank you Kate Sandiford & Grant Wang (PonerineCat) 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.

This species is

Australian Native Species, not listed in the SA Murray Mallee Survey of 2010.

		<<< Previous Species Titan Pony Ant Anal Hairs		Next >>> Green-head Ant Profile
			Animals Birds Fish Frogs Invert's Ants, Bees, Flies & Wasps Beetles, Cockroaches & True Bugs Dragonflies, Mantids & Netwings Hoppers Moths & Butterflies Other Bugs Spiders, Scorpions, Mites & Ticks Mammals Reptiles Best-Antennae Best-Dorsal Best-Eyes Best-Juvenile Best-Profile Best-Pupa Best-Ventral Best-Wings Other Crust & Algae Fungi Introduced Species Plants Mistletoe Small Plants Daisies Mosses & Liverworts Orchids Other Small Plants Small Bluebush & Saltbush Shrubs & Bushes Trees Vines Best-Buds Best-Flowers Best-Fruits Best-Leaves Key-Buds Key-Flowers Info Calendars All Introduced Murraylands Native Inverts Murraylands Native Large Animals Murraylands Native Plants & Fungi Contact Did You Know? about Antennae about Bites about Cold Blooded about Eyes about Mimickery about Skin about Tools about Wings Help Home Status Search Complete List Google What's New