Bull Ants: Australia’s Unique Insects Revealed

Bull Ants fall under the genus, Myrmecia, and have around 90 different species, almost all of which are endemic to Australia. They’re one of the most primitive groups of ants on earth, and they function quite differently from most other ant species.

Typically, when an ant wants to communicate with its fellow colony members, it lays down pheromones, which the others can smell using their antennae, and be guided towards, some food for example. Forming a sight, you’ll probably be familiar with, a long trail of ants leading to a source of food.

Great EyeSight

But, Bull Ants are different. Instead of laying down pheromone trails and relying largely on their sense of smell to direct themselves, they navigate through a different sense. “Through their sense of sight”. While most ants have relatively poor eyesight, Bull Ants have exceptional vision. Just look at those massive eyes in the above picture. They often travel long distances from their nest in search of food. And as they go, they use their enhanced vision to scan and even memorize their environment. Relying on landmarks, like the surrounding trees and logs, to navigate their way back to their nest. Bull Ants’ acute sense of vision, also makes them incredibly effective at tracking down and stalking prey.

Eating Habits Of Bull Ants

The workers prefer to feed on sweet substances, like nectar and tree sap, and fruit, like an apple core or any other fruit that they can get their hands on if they get the chance. But the colonies’ larvae demand protein-rich foods, like other arthropods. Once they get within striking distance, they use their powerful mandibles to grip onto, and then, quickly subdue their prey by delivering a deadly sting, which they, like their wasp ancestors, can inject multiple times. Bull Ants occasionally prey upon other ants too. Usually seen targeting Carpenter Ants, which often live alongside them. A successful kill comes with a great reward.

Not only do the ants provide great nourishment for their colony, but they also reduce the numbers, and subsequently the strength of their neighboring colonies. Increasing the Bull Ants’ odds of finding food within the area. This can be a little dangerous, however, as these Carpenter Ants will raise alarm pheromones when felt threatened, causing their fellow colony members to rush in against their attacker, sometimes even resulting in the predator becoming the prey.

So instead of constantly hunting these foreigners, to compete for territory and resources, Bull Ants have developed a safer alternative. They do so through sabotage. The Bull Ants pay a visit to their neighbors and start dropping debris, like rocks and twigs, into their nest entrances. By shutting in the rival colony, it forces them to spend time and energy to clear these blockages, effectively, limiting their foraging capabilities. Bull Ants are even known to multitask too. They have been seen to clean out their nest, carrying out scraps, like the exoskeletons of past prey, which they no longer have any use for simultaneously. So they move it out of their nest and straight into their, not-so-fortunate neighbors’.

One of the most abundant and commonly found Bull Ants across Australia is Myrmecia pilosula, commonly known as Jumping Jack Ants. As their name suggests, they can jump, and they utilize this unique trait for several different circumstances. When they’re agitated, particularly around their nest, they perform a hoping-like action, perhaps to warn intruders to stay clear by showcasing their agility and ferocity. And when they feel threatened, they can use it as a defensive mechanism. Leaping into the air, several times their body length, in the hope of escape. Paired with their great vision, they occasionally use it whilst foraging, jumping from place to place relatively accurately, much like a jumping spider would.

The colonies of bull ants can carry in size quite a bit and can have one or multiple queens The workers enclosed from the queen’s very first batch of eggs, and so, are known as nanitics. They are the ones that do most of the hard work around the nest. The first generation or two, tend to be smaller in size than the preceding generations, as the colony simply has fewer workers around, foraging for food and making sure that the brood and queen are well nurtured.

Apart from the obvious size difference, Bull ant queens look quite similar to regular workers. Most queens you’ll see, like CarpenterAnt queen, tend to have a disproportionally large thorax and gaster section. After these queens dig themselves out of an egglaying chamber, known as a claustral cell, here they’ll remain, living off their fat reserves and waiting patiently for their workers to arrive.

These types of queens are known as fully claustral queens. Unlike fully claustral queens, however, Bull Ant queens just don’t have sufficient fat reserves to fast through a long period. And so, found their colonies in a semi-claustral manner. Meaning, that they leave their claustral cell to search for food, to nourish both themselves and their hungry larvae.

Bull Ants can be some of the largest ants you’ll see. With some species, reaching up to 2.5cm in length, and the queens measuring even larger. Here you can see the difference against an averaged ant. As you can see, Bull Ants are like giants by comparison. Generally, however, the larger the species, the longer it takes for the brood to develop and for workers to emerge. Because these ants are so large, the lifecycle of the ant, from egg to adult, can take several months. It’s worth the wait though, as Bull Antworkers exhibit greater longevity in comparison to other ants, having a life expectancy of over a year in age.

Whereas, the more common, smaller species, tend to live for only just a few months. These Bull Ant workers also possess a unique ability, in that they can reproduce with male ants and lay fertile eggs. Becoming what’s known as, gamergates. In most other species of ants, it’s only the queen of the colony that can do this, and all the workers are completely sterile. This trait is particularly useful if the original queen of the colony were to die. As a gamergate or two, would then be able to take over the role of egg-laying and extend the lifespan of the colony.

All these unique characteristics make BullAnts a true favorite of many insects’ enthusiasts. Bull ants can be quite aggressive and do have the ability to sting. Because of their great sense of sight, they’re immediately drawn to any movements. So it’s really hard to do basic things around their nest, like adding in and removing foods if you intend to have one as a pet, without causing any alarm. They deliver quite a potent and painful sting. Some species of Bull Ants are considered the most toxic in the entire insect world. So if you do come across these guys, it’s recommended to keep a good distance and it isn’t recommended trying to raise them if you’re a beginning ant keeper or prone to allergies.

Bull Ants are not so interested in insects when they don’t have any larvae to feed. Unlike the omnivorous adults, Bull ant larvae are known to be carnivorous, so once the eggs do hatch into larvae, it becomes a necessity for the colony to hunt some insects

Stinging And Biting Of Bull Ants

Bull Ants can sting as well as bite, some of their stings can be quite venomous so it is recommended that you don’t agitate a bull ant unnecessarily especially if you are near their nests. Moreover, Bull Ants do not lose their stingers after stinging once like the honey bees as they can just take the stinger out of the victim’s body. This means that they are very much capable of stinging one victim at various times with their venom