Podomyrma

is a genus of large, robust myrmicine ants found from Indonesia to Australia. These muscular insects nest in dead wood and are often seen foraging on tree trunks and branches.

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Podomyrma adelaidae tends to a Lycaenid caterpillar. These caterpillars secrete substances that the ants find attractive, and the ants in turn provide protection from parasites.

Poochera, South Australia

Podomyrma adelaidae

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

Podomyrma adelaidae worker foraging on a tree branch.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

Podomyrma gastralis, found in New Guinea and Northern Australia, is a large, brightly colored arboreal ant.

Iron Range National Park, Queensland, Australia

A Podomyrma gratiosa worker forages on a tree trunk. These large ants are almost exclusively arboreal, and their swollen legs contain muscles to help them grip the bark firmly.

Naracoorte, South Australia

Brute force versus chemical weaponry: the heavily armored Podomyrma gratiosa dispatches small Crematogaster with her powerful mandibles, but the smaller ants use strong defensive chemicals in return, coating their adversary with a thick acrid foam exuded from their abdomens.

Naracoorte, South Australia

Podomyrma gratiosa fighting with Crematogaster.

Naracoorte, South Australia

A large Podomyrma gratiosa tree ant attacks a column of smaller Crematogaster workers that pass too close to her nest. The Crematogaster fight back, and even though the large size and heavy armor of the Podomyrma allow it a one-on-one advantage, the superior numbers of Crematogaster give the smaller ants the edge in this fight.

Naracoorte, South Australia

Podomyrma adelaidae tends to a Lycaenid caterpillar. These caterpillars secrete substances that the ants find attractive, and the ants in turn provide protection from parasites.

Poochera, South Australia

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Podomyrma

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