Chelaner antarcticus

This is one of New Zealand’s most widely distributed and abundant ants, present in areas of very high (e.g. Fiordland: 8000 mm) and very low (e.g. Canterbury: < 500 mm) rainfall, and on nearly all of New Zealand’s islands (Don 2007). Colonies can be found under half-buried stones or logs in open pastures, grasslands, swamps at high altitudes, forests, and gardens (Lamb et al., 2020).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: New Zealand.

See Lamb et al. (2020) for notes on nesting behaviour in this species.

Nomenclature

 *  antarcticus. Atta antarctica Smith, F. 1858b: 167 [not White, A. 1846; see Bolton, 1987: 288] (q.) NEW ZEALAND.
 * Emery, 1887b: 458 (w.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1955c: 123 (l.).
 * Combination in Monomorium: Mayr, 1886c: 360.
 * Combination in M. (Notomyrmex): Emery, 1915i: 190.
 * Combination in Notomyrmex: Kusnezov, 1960b: 343.
 * Combination in Monomorium: Bolton, 1987: 286.
 * Combination in Chelaner: Ettershank, 1966: 96; Sparks et al., 2019: 232.
 * Senior synonym of fulvum: Emery, 1887b: 458.
 * Senior synonym of integrum, nitidum, succineum, suteri: Brown, 1958h: 29.
 * Senior synonym of rapaense: Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 62.
 * See also: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1960b: 16.
 * fulvum. Monomorium fulvum Mayr, 1862: 754 (w.) NEW ZEALAND. Junior synonym of antarcticum: Emery, 1887b: 458.
 * nitidum. Tetramorium nitidum Smith, F. 1876b: 480 (w.q.m.) NEW ZEALAND. Combination in Monomorium: Mayr, 1886c: 363; in M. (Notomyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 169. Junior synonym of antarcticum: Brown, 1958h: 29.
 * suteri. Monomorium suteri Forel, 1892c: 340 (w.q.m.) NEW ZEALAND. Combination in M. (Notomyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 170. Junior synonym of antarcticum: Brown, 1958h: 29.
 * integrum. Monomorium integrum Forel, 1894e: 228 (w.q.m.) NEW ZEALAND. Junior synonym of antarcticum: Brown, 1958h: 29.
 * succineum. Monomorium succineum Stitz, 1911a: 367 (q.) NEW ZEALAND. Combination in M. (Notomyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 170. Junior synonym of antarcticum: Brown, 1958h: 29.
 * rapaense. Monomorium (Notomyrmex) rapaense Wheeler, W.M. 1936f: 10 (w.) RAPA I. Combination in Chelaner: Ettershank, 1966: 97. Junior synonym of antarcticum: Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 62.