Metallic Brown Spider Wasp
Auplopus sp.
-33.3817, 151.484
Field Notes
Habitat:
This creature runs and acts like the huge jumping jack ants (Myrmecia sp http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_ants/GiantJumperAnt.htm ) that used to live in this forest. It moves in aggressive bursts of speed then searches for a second then jumps or runs again and I had mistaken for one of those ferocious ants for until it was close enough to see the glint on the wings. It waves its antennae constantly and the whole body language is that of the ants.
Notes:
# jumping jack wasp mar 14. Of almost fifty attempts to get the photograph this is the only one even recognisable as a winged beast. It was moving in fast bursts and leaps just as the largest of the jumping jack ants moves and would not give the auto focus a chance to catch up or me a chance to manually set a shot.
The huge ants are gone from these woods now. They were killed off by home owners who have properties backing the wood. These ants are terrifying and will hunt anything that disturbs their territory including humans. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_jumper_ant. While I have no idea what my spotting is it looks like a mimic of those ants. I have been stung by a couple of the jumper ants in two incidents and it is not something one forgets. Thanks for another ID stho002
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