Crematogaster

Crematogaster workers are moderately aggressive and will attack when disturbed. They have well developed chemical defenses and are avoided by most other ants. Often small white droplets of defensive compounds can be seen at the tip of the upheld gaster in disturbed workers. Nests are found in a range of sites including in soil with or without coverings, in cracks in rocks, in dead wood and arboreally in trunks and twigs; a few will construct silk nests in trees. Nests can contain many thousands of workers but most are more moderately sized. Individual colonies are often composed of several small nests a few metres apart and may contain more than one queen. The entrances of these separate nests can sometimes be connected by well worn trails several centimetres deep. Additionally, some ground nesting species will form small satellite nests under bark on trees to protect and guard the Hemiptera from which they collect honeydew. Foraging takes place on the ground as well as on low vegetation and trees, and often involves distinct trails. They are generalist predators as well as tending Hemiptera and the caterpillars of several butterflies.



Worker of Crematogaster from Queensland.

Identification
The antennae are 10 or 11 segmented (including the scape). The petiole is low and rounded and lacks a node on its upper surface. The postpetiole is attached to the upper surface of the gaster. The nature of the attachment of the postpetiole to the gaster is highly distinctive and will separate these ants from all others.

Distribution and Habitats
Australian distribution

Regional Species Lists

 * Australia

Keys to Species

 * Australia