Rhytidoponera metallica

Distribution
This taxon was described from Australia.

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).

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.

Additional References

 * Shattuck, S. O. (2009). Personal communication from paediatric immunologist, Children's Hospital Medical Central, Westmead, NSW, May, 2009.


 * [[Media:Ward 1986.pdf|Ward, P. S. 1986. Functional queens in the Australian greenhead ant, Rhytidoponera metallica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Psyche (Cambridge) 93:1-12. [1986-10-10] PDF]]