Myrmecia croslandi

Myrmecia croslandi
Classification
Subfamily: Myrmeciinae
Family: Formicidae
Order: Hymenoptera
Common name: Jack Jumper

This is one of the few ants that exhibit jumping behaviour. The jumps are relatively short hops, that usually range between 1-6 cms. These ants can easily recognised by their long yellowish mandibles and yellowish legs. They easily qualify as one among the smallest species of the genus Myrmecia, measuring around 10-12 mm. As one would guess, these ants are solitary foragers and are active only during the day. However, they avoid foraging during the hottest period of the day. They feed on insects, especially resting moths. They also feed on the exudates of sap-sucking homopterans.

Nest entrance of the Jack Jumper ant, Myrmecia croslandi

Yellow mandibles of the Jack Jumper ant, Myrmecia croslandi

A foraging Jack Jumper ant, Myrmecia croslandiThe Jack Jumper, Myrmecia croslandi, climbs over a stick and takes refuge after being chased away by the Meat ants, Iridomyrmex purpureusThe Jack Jumper, Myrmecia croslandi, climbs over a stick and takes refuge after being chased away by the Meat ants, Iridomyrmex purpureus

A frontal view of the Male of the Jack Jumper, Myrmecia croslandi.A profiel view of the Male of the Jack Jumper, Myrmecia croslandi. Note 10 c coin for scale in the background

Collected:
ANU campus, Canberra, ACT, Australia (December, 2006).
Naggi National park, NSW, Australia (January 2007).
Mt. Majura, Canberra, ACT, Australia (March 2007).