Rhytidoponera metallica

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).

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

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.

Nomenclature

 *  metallica. Ponera metallica Smith, F. 1858b: 94 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA. 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 Ecataomma (Rhytidoponera): Mayr, 1862: 732; in Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera): Emery, 1897d: 548. Senior synonym of caeciliae, pulchra, purpurascens, varians: Brown, 1958g: 204.
 * purpurascens. Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) metallica var. purpurascens Wheeler, W.M. 1915g: 805 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of metallica: Brown, 1958g: 204.
 * varians. Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) metallica var. varians Crawley, 1922b: 436 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Crawley, 1925b: 591 (m.). Junior synonym of metallica: Brown, 1958g: 204.
 * caeciliae. Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) caeciliae Viehmeyer, 1924a: 227 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of metallica: Brown, 1958g: 204.
 * pulchra. Chalcoponera pulchra Clark, 1941: 86, pl. 13, fig. 16 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of metallica: Brown, 1958g: 204.

Type Material


Ponera metallica

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

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.