They have superior vision, able to track and even follow intruders from a distance of 1 metre. Many species of bull ants have bright red or orange colours on the head or abdomen.
There are about 90 species of bull ants in Australia with diverse behaviours and life cycles. Nine bull ant species have been recorded in Sydney, but there may be more as yet undiscovered. Some of the smaller species are known as jumper ants after their habit of aggressively jumping toward intruders.
Bull ants collect nectar and other plant juices, as well as animal prey, which are carried back to the nest. Bull ant nests are usually underground and often have hidden or small entrances. The nests can extend several metres below the ground. Bulldog Ant. Size : Bulldog ants are large in size and measures 8mm to 40 mm. The worker ants and the queens are of the similar size. Mandibles : Their mandibles are straight and long, located at the front of the head.
These mandibles possess teeth along the inner lining. Body : They have a stinger loaded with venom which is located in their abdomen at the tip of the gaster.
These ants have the mesosoma which is attached to the gaster by two separate segments known as the petiole and the postpetiole. They usually feed on plant nectar, honeydew and plant juices.
Sometimes they prey on other insects as well. They also feed on gum, fruits, fungi and seeds. These ants have their own dairy since they feed on sugar from the bugs that suck plant sap such as aphids just like milking cows. Bulldog ants are found in forests, woodlands, and heath. They make their homes underground which have expansive tunnel system with a small entrance. During certain times of the year, these ants develop wings. When the young queen is ready to mate she flies out to meet other males.
They are the largest ants in Australia, with only a few species which rival them in other parts of the world. They are instantly recognisable by their huge mandibles on the front of their heads, and a long, slender body. There are almost different species of bull ants, all but one are endemic to Australia.
New Caledonia has a single rare species. Bull ant colonies are relatively small, with numbers of individuals in the low hundreds rather than thousands like many other ant species. Bull ants are extremely aggressive, and are known to hunt larger insect species and bite humans to defend themselves. In nature, bull ants have been observed hunting bees, and will even attack carpenter ants.
Bull ants also possess extremely keen eyesight, which allows them to hunt prey over distances up to 3 feet. Like most ant species, bull ant colonies are located underground. However, the entrance to their colony is usually hidden, making it very easy to suddenly encounter a large number of bull ants. Bull ants will attack when they feel threatened, using their strong mandibles to attach to a victim and then using their stinger.
The bite of a bull ant is extremely painful and may result in a dangerous allergic reaction.
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