Technomyrmex

Technomyrmex workers are general scavengers, foraging on the ground, on low vegetation and in trees. They nest in soil with or without covering, in twigs or branches, in rotten wood, under loose bark and in nests constructed of plant fibers which are attached under leaves or to tree trunks. Colonies are generally large and can contain up to several million workers although some species have much smaller nests. Individual colonies can consist of several separate nests and some species will readily form small satellite nests (they are polydomous). Some species are known to have worker-like males and queens.

Workers of Technomyrmex commonly forage in houses in search of food and water. They enter through small cracks and, on finding a suitable food source, form distinct trails with many workers travelling between their nest sites and the food source. In general they nest outdoors but will sometimes establish small nests in a suitable location indoors near a well-maintained food supply.



Worker of T. jocusus from Norfolk Island.

Identification
Mandibles with 7 or 10 large teeth and 2 to 15 small denticles, and with the surface containing the teeth and the surface near the clypeus rounding gradually into one another (basal angle absent). The upper surface of the propodeum is shorter than the rear surface. The node of the petiole is absent and its forward face is either lacking or is very short and indistinct. The first segment of the gaster projects forward and partially or completely conceals the petiole when viewed from above. The gaster has 5 segments on its upper surface.

Technomyrmex is most likely to be confused with Tapinoma. They differ in that most species of Technomyrmex are larger in overall body size, as well as differing in the number of segments on the upper surface of the gaster. In Technomyrmex the gaster has 5 segments on its upper surface (although the fifth may be small and retracted in some specimens) while in Tapinoma there are four segments on the upper surface.

Distribution and Habitats
Australian distribution

Regional Species Lists

 * Australia

Keys to Species

 * Australia