Notoncus ectatommoides

Clark (1934) reported finding a small nest under a log.

Identification
Scutellum in the form of a slender, erect process, the apex of which may be in the form of a chisel point, an emarginate chisel point, a Y, a thick, pointed tooth, or some intermediate shape.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Biology
W. L. Brown (1955) described a mating flight of this species: In a cropped lawn at Montville, Queensland numerous small holes appeared, each opened by workers and accompanied by a minute pile of dark earthen particles. From these holes, males began to issue almost immediately in numbers, until within a few minutes there had accumulated on the surface a surprisingly large number of this sex and also a few workers. The males traveled aimlessly over the sward in low, flitting flight from one blade of grass to another, never rising more than a foot or so from the ground. Movement seemed to take place at random in all directions. Suddenly, however, the males of one area all rushed simultaneously to a single focal point, which proved to be a winged female emerging from a small hole. In a few seconds, the female was surrounded by a dense swarm of males in the form of a ball, which at times must have exceeded 2 cm in diameter. This ball moved in a half-tumbling, half-dragging motion over and among the densely packed grass blades, and held together for perhaps 20 seconds, after which the female escaped, flying straight upward. She appeared not to be encumbered by a male, and no males were seen to follow her for more than a foot above the ground; she flew steadily, and soon passed out of sight.

Meanwhile, the lawn had become dotted with similar balls of frenzied males, each surrounding a female in a fashion similar to the first. Obviously, many more males than females were involved in this particular flight. On each occasion, the female left the ball after 20-30 seconds and flew straight upward.

Nomenclature

 *  ectatommoides. Camponotus ectatommoides Forel, 1892c: 333 (q.) AUSTRALIA. Emery, 1895g: 353 (w.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1968: 206 (l.); Imai, Crozier & Taylor, 1977: 346 (k.). Combination in Notoncus: Emery, 1895g: 353. Senior synonym of acuminata, dentata, foreli, rodwayi, subdentata: Brown, 1955d: 485.
 * foreli. Notoncus foreli André, 1896b: 256 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Forel, 1915b: 90 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1968: 208 (l.). Junior synonym of ectatommoides: Brown, 1955d: 485.
 * dentata. Notoncus foreli var. dentata Forel, 1910b: 68 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of ectatommoides: Brown, 1955d: 486.
 * subdentata. Notoncus foreli var. subdentata Forel, 1910b: 68 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Viehmeyer, 1925a: 37 (q.m.). Junior synonym of ectatommoides: Brown, 1955d: 486.
 * acuminata. Notoncus foreli var. acuminata Viehmeyer, 1925a: 37 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of ectatommoides: Brown, 1955d: 486.
 * rodwayi. Notoncus rodwayi Donisthorpe, 1941j: 206 (q.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of ectatommoides: Brown, 1955d: 486.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1955. A revision of the Australian ant genus Notoncus Emery, with notes on the other genera of Melophorini. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 113: 471-494.
 * Chong C-S., L. J. Thomson, and A. A. Hoffmann. 2011. High diversity of ants in Australian vineyards. Australian Journal of Entomology 50: 7-21.
 * House A. C. Burwell, and S. Brown. 2006. Ant assemblages in Brigalow regrowth vegetation. Ecological Management and Restoration 7(2): 136-140.
 * Lowery B. B., and R. J. Taylor. 1994. Occurrence of ant species in a range of sclerophyll forest communities at Old Chum Dam, north-eastern Tasmania. Australian Entomologist 21: 11-14.
 * Mann V. 2013. Using insect biodiversity to measure the effectiveness of on-farm restoration plantings. Master of Environmental Management at the School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania 111 pages.
 * 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.
 * Sinclair J. E., and T. R. New. 2004. Pine plantations in south eastern Australia support highly impoverished ant assemblages (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Insect Conservation 8: 277-286.
 * 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.
 * Szabó J. 1910. Formicides nouveaux ou peu connus des collections du Musée National Hongrois. [part]. Ann. Hist.-Nat. Mus. Natl. Hung. 8: 364-368.