OzAnimals.com
Australian Wildlife

  Dome-backed Spiny Ant (Polyrhachis australis)





Dome-backed Spiny Ant | Polyrhachis australis photo
the spines of the Dome-backed Spiny Ant can be seen on ant at left of the photo. The nest was a bit larger than a fist, and about 1m off the ground in a bottlebrush tree.

Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Dome-backed Spiny Ant | Polyrhachis australis photo
Dome-backed Spiny Ant. I always thought they were all black - but apparently some have a brown stripe down the back.

Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.







INSECT FACTS

Identification
The Dome-backed Spiny Ant is a medium-sized ant. It is shiny black with humped back. They have spines on their thorax.

Size
7mm

Habitat
nests in shrubs and trees

Breeding
The nest is made out of plant fibres woven together with living leaves.



Classification
Class:Insecta
Order:Hymenoptera
Family:Formicidae
Genus:Polyrhachis
Species:australis
Common Name:Dome-backed Spiny Ant

Relatives in same Genus
  Golden-tailed Spiny Ant (P. ammon)
  Spiny Ant (P. unknown species)
  Spiny Ant (P. unknown species)