Anonychomyrma Biconvexa (Rectangular Headed Ant)

Anonychomyrma biconvexa (Rectangular Headed Ant)

A small yet aggressive species of temperate ant commonly found on the South East Coast of Australia and parts of Tasmania. Specifically, one tends to find populous colonies in open habitats with higher degrees of rainfall, i.e. sclerophyll forests such as the Traralgon Plantations in Victoria, Australia. 

Interestingly, scientists have described this species as an "increaser" in relation to higher levels of disturbance (wildfires) and activity (human). This essentially means that these ants are exploiting such particular areas of land to their own favour, not only surviving but thriving and increasing in numbers, hence the term "increaser". Also observed in species such as Iridomyrmex spp.

This dominant species (both ground dwelling and arboreal) relies on a large number of scouts to forage for essential nutrients due to its capacity to grow into very large colonies that can reach thousands of individuals. In order to ward off competitors or predators, they will raise their gasters and secrete a mixture of odorous acids in a similar fashion to Crematogaster spp.

Fun fact! They often 'houseshare' as colonies live alongside a species of pseudoscorpion called Marachernes bellus, specialised in predating on these ants... talk about scary flatmates. 

All in all, a fast growing nimble species of ant that will adapt to most man-made enclosures provided that the right temperatures (23-25C) and humidity (60%) parameters are in place. 

It is illegal and strictly frowned upon to release any non-native ants into the wild.