Iridomyrmex purpureus
| Latin Name: |  |
Iridomyrmex purpureus |
| Trivialname: |  |
Purple Meat Ant |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae Tribe: Leptomyrmicini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) Show higher requirements to climate, nutrition and escapeprevention |
| Distribution: |  |
Australia |
| Habitat: |  |
open forest, dry sclerophyll, eucalyptus woodland |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne secondary polygyn |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 12 - 15mm Colour: black with a purple iridescence |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 6 - 10mm Colour: head and thorax scarlett to rusty red, gaster black with a purple iridescence |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: - Colour: - |
| Nutrition |  |
Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos; fruits |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 21 - 30°C Nestpart: 24 - 26°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
Build their nest in claysoil, with a huge mount up to 60cm covered with pebbles |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/ Plaster |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: M - L |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand- Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to Meadowareas, moss and different grassspecies |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, Stones |
| Description: |  |
These ants are very common all through Australia and can be found in open grassland but never in wet sclerophyll. The collect everything what they find from seeds to meat. They host many scale insects psylids, leafhoppers, cicads etc. . When disturbed they are very aggressive and attack everything near the nest. They exude the typical smell of piantcleaner when attacked. They are one of the most important predators of canetoads. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: - founding: claustral (without feeding) colonysize: up to 40.000 Individuals and more |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |