Rhytidoponera metallica

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Rhytidoponera metallica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ectatomminae
Tribe: Ectatommini
Genus: Rhytidoponera
Species: R. metallica
Binomial name
Rhytidoponera metallica
(Smith, F., 1858)

Rhytidoponera metallica casent0172345 profile 1.jpg

Rhytidoponera metallica casent0172345 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Synonyms
At a Glance • Gamergate  • Limited invasive  

A very common smallish, iridescent species. This species, or a complex of sibling species, is found throughout Australia. In the suburbs of some major cities in the eastern states, where it is present in large numbers in parks and gardens, it is regarded as a stinging nuisance. Rhytidoponera metallica is fond of elaiosomes and has a significant role in dispersal of seeds (Hughes and Westoby 1992; Hughes et al. 1994).


Photo Gallery

  • A Rhytidoponera metallica worker returning to her nest with a dead wasp. Kalamunda, Perth, Western Australia. Photo by Farhan Bokhari, 31 March 2011.
  • A Pheidole antipodum queen wrestles with a couple of Rhytidoponera metallica workers. Both species had their nests in close proximity, which boded ill for the queens of both species trying to venture away from their nest. Although she is more powerful and heavily armoured than her foes, she will eventually succumb to them as the workers sting and drag her back to their nest to be butchered and fed to the larvae. Wandering, Western Australia. Photo by Farhan Bokhari.
  • Rhytidoponera metallica workers bring a Camponotus male back to their nest after stinging it to death. These ants forage singly, but are known to cooperate in bringing prey back to their nest. Brigadoon, Western Australia, photo by Farhan Bokhari.
  • Worker with fly. Photo by Mark Newton.
  • Worker with fly. Photo by Mark Newton.
  • Rhytidoponera metallica feeding on moth, South Australia. Photo by Mark Newton.

Identification

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -16.81986° to -41.441944°.

     
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality), New Zealand.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
pChart

Biology

These ants are common in both native and urban habitats, being being abundant across a wide range of situations.

In rare instances these ants have been known to cause serious health problems for humans. In May 2009, a 4 year old girl in northern New South Wales was stung three times by this ant. Within minutes she developed anaphylactic shock and required adrenaline. She recovered but the concern is that future stings may cause similar reactions (Shattuck, 2009).

Beaumont et al. (2018) studied how this ant might influence germination of three legumes in burned and unburned sites in Adelaide.

R. metallica is the major seed disperser in our study region. It disperses between 43% and 97% of the seeds (Beaumont et al. 2011, 2013), transports seeds greater distances than other ant species, promotes further dissemination of seeds through processes of seed redispersal (Beaumont et al. 2013) and buries a large fraction of seeds within a potential germination zone. This, in addition to frequent nest relocation (Hughes 1990; Thomas 2002), suggests that R. metallica is likely to be a major agent in determining the spatial development of myrmecochorous seed banks during inter-fire periods. In this present study germination rates of buried seeds associated with nests were higher in burned sites. This demonstrates that R. metallica buried a proportion of the seeds they collected at depths where sufficient soil heating occurred to break seed dormancy during the prescribed fire. We conclude R. metallica may provide fire avoidance benefits by burying seeds at a range of depths within a potential germination zone defined by intra- and inter-fire variation in levels of soil heating.

Association with Other Organisms

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  • This species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Chalcura nigricyanea (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (primary host).
  • This species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Chalcura polita (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Tricoryna chalcoponerae (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (primary host).
  • This species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Tricoryna minor (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (primary host).
  • This species is a host for the cricket Myrmecophilus keyi (a myrmecophile) in Australia.

Castes

Ward (1986) - Several gamergates reproduce in each colonies. Winged queens are produced sporadically, and seem mostly non-functional.

Queens (n=8 dissected) had 14-18 ovarioles; workers (n=18) had 4-8 ovarioles (C. Peeters, unpublished data from 2 colonies sampled in Bilpin, NSW, and Barrington Tops, NSW). All these queens were dealate with empty spermathecae and undeveloped ovarioles.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Rhytidoponera metallica casent0172346 head 1.jpgRhytidoponera metallica casent0172346 profile 1.jpgRhytidoponera metallica casent0172346 profile 2.jpgRhytidoponera metallica casent0172346 dorsal 1.jpgRhytidoponera metallica casent0172346 label 1.jpg
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0172346. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ANIC, Canberra, Australia.

Male

Images from AntWeb

Rhytidoponera metallica casent0172347 head 1.jpgRhytidoponera metallica casent0172347 profile 1.jpgRhytidoponera metallica casent0172347 profile 2.jpgRhytidoponera metallica casent0172347 dorsal 1.jpgRhytidoponera metallica casent0172347 label 1.jpg
Male (alate). Specimen code casent0172347. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ANIC, Canberra, Australia.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • metallica. Ponera metallica Smith, F. 1858b: 94 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia).
    • Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Brown, 1958g: 275), 1 paralectotype worker.
    • [Note: the original syntype queen has apparently been lost.]
    • Type-locality: lectotype Australia: South Australia, Adelaide, “Smith coll. pres. by Mrs Farren White. 99-103” (no collector’s name); paralectotype with same data.
    • Type-depository: BMNH.
    • Mayr, 1866b: 891 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1952a: 125 (l.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1964b: 449 (l.); Crozier, 1969: 241 (k.); Imai, Crozier & Taylor, 1977: 347 (k.).
    • Combination in Ectatomma (Rhytidoponera): Mayr, 1862: 732; Mayr, 1887: 539;
    • combination in Ectatomma: Roger, 1863b: 17; Emery, 1887b: 444;
    • combination in Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera): Emery, 1897d: 548;
    • combination in Chalcoponera: Wheeler, W.M. 1935g: 10.
    • Status as species: Roger, 1860: 308; Mayr, 1862: 732; Mayr, 1863: 410; Roger, 1863b: 17; Mayr, 1865: 72; Lowne, 1865b: 334; Mayr, 1866b: 891; Mayr, 1876: 90 (in key); Mayr, 1886c: 358; Emery, 1887b: 444; Dalla Torre, 1893: 24; Forel, 1907h: 270; Wheeler, W.M. 1909a: 26; Emery, 1911d: 39; Stitz, 1911a: 354; Emery, 1912a: 78; Emery, 1914b: 180; Forel, 1915b: 14; Wheeler, W.M. 1915g: 805; Crawley, 1918: 88; Poulton & Crawley, 1922: 121; Clark, 1928c: 40; Wheeler, W.M. 1935g: 10; Clark, 1938: 362; Brown, 1958g: 204, 275; Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 20, 102; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 380; Don, 2007: 81; Heterick, 2009: 140.
    • Senior synonym of caeciliae: Brown, 1958g: 204, 275; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 380.
    • Senior synonym of pulchra: Brown, 1958g: 204, 275; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 380.
    • Senior synonym of purpurascens: Brown, 1958g: 204, 275; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 380.
    • Senior synonym of varians: Brown, 1958g: 204, 276; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 380.
    • Distribution: Australia.
  • caeciliae. Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) caeciliae Viehmeyer, 1924a: 227 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia).
    • Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queens (numbers not stated).
    • Type-locality: Australia: South Australia, Killolpanino (= Killalpaninna) (W. Riedel).
    • Type-depositories: MNHU, NHMB, USNM.
    • Junior synonym of metallica: Brown, 1958g: 204, 275; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 378.
  • pulchra. Chalcoponera pulchra Clark, 1941: 86, pl. 13, fig. 16 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: Australia: Western Australia, Forrest, iv.1930 (C.L. Barrett).
    • Type-depository: MVMA.
    • Junior synonym of metallica: Brown, 1958g: 204, 275; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 380.
  • purpurascens. Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) metallica var. purpurascens Wheeler, W.M. 1915g: 805 (w.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia).
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Australia: South Australia, Moorilyanna (no collector’s name).
    • Type-depository: MCZC.
    • Junior synonym of metallica: Brown, 1958g: 204, 275; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 380.
  • varians. Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) metallica var. varians Crawley, 1922b: 436 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: Australia: Western Australia, Darlington, no. 40 (J. Clark).
    • Type-depositories: NHMB, OXUM.
    • Crawley, 1925b: 591 (m.).
    • Subspecies of metallica: Crawley, 1925b: 591.
    • Junior synonym of metallica: Brown, 1958g: 204, 275; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 381.

Type Material

  • Chalcoponera pulchra Clark, 1941: Syntype, 1 worker, Forrest, Western Australia, Australia, <collector unknown>, ANIC32-011948, Australian National Insect Collection.
  • Chalcoponera pulchra Clark, 1941: Syntype, worker(s), Forrest, Western Australia, Australia, Museum Victoria, Melbourne.
  • Ponera metallica Smith, 1858: Lectotype, worker or queen (uncertain), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
  • Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) caeciliae Viehmeyer, 1924: Syntype, worker(s), queen(s), Killalpaninna (as Kilolpanino), South Australia, Australia, Berlin Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität.
  • Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) metallica purpurascens Wheeler, 1915: Holotype, worker, Moorilyanna, South Australia, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
  • Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) metallica varians Crawley, 1922: Syntype, worker, Darlington, Western Australia, Australia, Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
  • Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) metallica varians Crawley, 1922: Syntype, 3 workers, 3 males, Darlington, Western Australia, Australia, Queensland Museum.
  • Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) metallica varians Crawley, 1922: Syntype, 2 workers, 1 male (may not be true types), Darlington, Western Australia, Australia, Western Australian Museum.

The following notes on F. Smith type specimens have been provided by Barry Bolton (details):

Ponera metallica

Two worker syntypes in The Natural History Museum. Labelled “Adelaide,” and “Smith coll. pres. by Mrs Farren White. 99-103.” [One specimen designated lectotype by Brown, 1958.]

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Male

Crawley (1925) - Length 5.2 mm.

Slightly smaller than the above. The funicular joints are rather shorter, the sculpture on head and thorax is denser, the punctures less defined, on the postpetiole the sculpture is coarser, irregularly transversely rugose; the first segment of gaster transversely roughened; otherwise like inornata. The pilosity on the legs is less dense.

Karyotype

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  • n = 17 (Australia) (Crozier, 1969) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • n = 18 (Australia) (Crozier, 1969) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • n = 19 (Australia) (Crozier, 1969) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • n = 20 (Australia) (Crozier, 1969) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • n = 21 (Australia) (Crozier, 1969) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • n = 22 (Australia) (Crozier, 1969) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 24 (Australia) (Crozier, 1969; Crozier et al., 1986) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 41 (Australia) (Crozier, 1969) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 42 (Australia) (Crozier, 1969) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 43 (Australia) (Crozier, 1969; Crozier et al., 1986) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 34 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 35 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 36 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 37 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 38 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 46 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • n = 11, 2n = 22, karyotype = 12M + 10A (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 23 (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • n = 12, 2n = 24, karyotype = 16M + 8A (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • n = 18, 2n = 36, karyotype = 6M + 30A (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 37 (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 41 (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • n = 21, 2n = 42 (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 43 (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • 2n = 44 (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977) (Robertsonian polymorphism).
  • n = 23, 2n = 46, karyotype = 4M + 42A (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015) (Robertsonian polymorphism).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Andersen A. N., B. D. Hoffman, and J. Somes. 2003. Ants as indicators of minesite restoration: community recovery at one of eight rehabilitation sites in central Queensland. Ecological Management and Restoration 4: 12-19.
  • Andrew N., L. Rodgerson, and A. York. 2000. Frequent fuel-reduction burning: the role of logs and associated leaf litter in the conservation of ant biodiversity. Austral Ecology 25: 99–107.
  • CSIRO Collection
  • Crawley W. C. 1922. Notes on some Australian ants. Biological notes by E. B. Poulton, D.Sc., M.A., F.R.S., and notes and descriptions of new forms by W. C. Crawley, B.A., F.E.S., F.R.M.S. [concl.]. Entomol. Mon. Mag. 58: 121-126
  • Emery C. 1887. Catalogo delle formiche esistenti nelle collezioni del Museo Civico di Genova. Parte terza. Formiche della regione Indo-Malese e dell'Australia (continuazione e fine). [concl.]. Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. 25(5): 427-473.
  • Emery C. 1911. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125.
  • Emery C. 1914. Formiche d'Australia e di Samoa raccolte dal Prof. Silvestri nel 1913. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 8: 179-186.
  • Emery, C. "Catalogo delle formiche esistenti nelle collezioni del Museo Civico di Genova. Parte terza. Formiche della regione Indo-Malese e dell'Australia (continuazione e fine)." Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria (Genova) (2) 5, no. 25 (1887): 427-473.
  • Heterick B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 76: 1-206. 
  • Lobry de Bruyn L. A. 1993. Ant composition and activity in naturally-vegetated and farmland environments on contrasting soils at Kellerberrin, Western Australia. Soil Biol. Biochem 25(8): 1043-1056.
  • Nooten S. S., P. Schultheiss, R. C. Rowe, S. L. Facey, and J. M. Cook. Habitat complexity affects functional traits and diversity of ant assemblages in urban green spaces (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 29: 67-77.
  • Stevens M. M., D. G. James, K. J. O'Malley, and N. E. Coombes. 1998. Seasonal variations in foraging by ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in two New South Wales citrus orchards. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 38: 889-896.
  • Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.
  • Taylor R. W., and D. R. Brown. 1985. Formicoidea. Zoological Catalogue of Australia 2: 1-149. 
  • Viehmeyer H. 1912. Ameisen aus Deutsch Neuguinea gesammelt von Dr. O. Schlaginhaufen. Nebst einem Verzeichnisse der papuanischen Arten. Abhandlungen und Berichte des Königlichen Zoologischen und Anthropologische-Ethnographischen Museums zu Dresden 14: 1-26.
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