The Belair Bull ant

Today we went back to the Belair park with one intent, to each get a macro shot. I love ants (as well as birds from this park) and Paladian was after this special flower she has been trying to capture perfectly. We shared the macro camera and both had success. Incidentally it was the wrong time of day for birds, about 2:30pm, as I did not see or hear a single feathered friend.

As some of you know from my past blips, ants and Bull Ants in particular, are one of my favourites. Bull ants have a fearsome reputation, and deservedly so. This particular ant was a worker ant.

They are also known as Bulldog Ants. There are 90 species and this one is the golden legged Belair National Park species. I have not seen a bull ant before that had golden lower legs.

Bigger golden legs.

They are large, alert ants that can grow up to 40 mm but this one was only 10mm long. A few of them were busily clearing out or extending their nest, carrying out lumps of clay-like soil in their wicked pincers.

They have characteristic large eyes and long, slender mandibles and a potent venom-loaded sting. This ant was all black with golden orange lower legs and mandibles.

Bull ants live in urban areas, forests and woodland throughout Australia. They collect nectar and other plant juices, as well as animal prey, which are carried back to the nest.
Luckily we do not seem to have them in our back garden!

See my previous bull ant on 4th December last year with the orange and red body.