Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Rattle Ants (nest construction)

Polyrhachis australis

Photo by Neil Ross
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

-27.4494, 153.101

Field Notes

Description:

Rattle Ant nest construction over a 4 day period (04-07 March, 2014). These ants build their nests on trees using plants leaves, dry plant materials and soil which are woven together with silk of their larvae. Sometimes the colony builds more than one nest on the same plant. My initial spotting of these ants was on Tuesday, 04 March - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/185806016

Notes:

It was really interesting watching these ants construct their nests, and by Friday they had at least 4 distinctive nests in a small cluster on the same branch.

Reference Links:

Rattle Ant - Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) sp., Polyrhachis australis

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
Neil Ross
I don't often see these ants (although, until now, I haven't really been looking). Fascinating to watch them hard at work, and yes, they are very constructive. I'm sure they're very proud of their work :-)
HemaShah
just awesome. Very constructive indeed!
Neil Ross
Thanks, Ava. It took 4 days for them to make this and a couple of other nests. Hard little workers they are. Hard to get good pics though. Very windy.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Wilds of South-East Queensland
Mission
Nests, hives, bowers, webs & other animal architecture
Mission
ANTS!!!!
Mission
Entomologica of Queensland
Mission
Wildlife of Brisbane

Tags

Photographed
PublishedMarch 7, 2014

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies