Iridomyrmex sp. (genus)

Ant at Copmanhurst, NSW

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Identification history

	Iridomyrmex sp. (genus)	26 Apr 2025	JonLewis
	Unverified	26 Apr 2025	MazzV

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User's notes

I believe these tiny black ants are a species extremely common in this location, with nests involving millions. They have no hesitation in nipping/stinging you if they climb on you and they are quite invasive to human habitat, especially in the days leading up to a rain event. Once established, however, they remain there. Only in closeup, and at certain angles, are 2 feint white lateral bands across the abdomen visible on this sightings subject (photos 1, 3 & 4). If these are the ones I’m thinking of, they are the same species as at sighting 4664475, and inclined to stick their abdomens up in the air at a roughly 45 degree angle. That was not observed on this occasion. The background is a relatively new concrete path.

1 comment

JonLewis wrote:

26 Apr 2025

Hi MazzV, many species of Iridomyrmex are as you describe - large nests with thousands or tens of thousands of ants, and very happy to defend their space with plenty of bites (they don't have a sting - some ants have stings and some don't - Iridomyrmex don't). Cheers.

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Location information

Places Copmanhurst, NSW

Sighting information

10 Abundance
MazzV Recorded by
Collections
MazzV NatureMapr New South Wales North Coast Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Insects

Additional information

Less than 5mm Animal size

Species information

Iridomyrmex sp. (genus) Scientific name
Ant Common name
Not Sensitive
Local native
Non-invasive or negligible
Up to 817.2m Recorded at altitude
422 images trained Machine learning
External link More information

Record quality

Images or audio
More than one media file
Verified by an expert moderator
Nearby sighting(s) of same species
GPS evidence of location
Description
Additional attributes

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Queensland

Northern Territory

Western Australia

South Australia

Victoria

Tasmania