A nest of Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ants.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
A nest of Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ants.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ant.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
A nest of Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ants.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
A nest of Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ants.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
A nest of Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ants.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Iridomyrmex purpureus. A young meat ant queen searches for a place to start a nest.

Little Desert National Park, Victoria, Australia
Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ants make large and conspicuous nests.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
The scientific name of Australian meat ants is Iridomyrmex, or "rainbow ants", referring to their blue-green iridescent sheen. (Iridomyrmex purpureus).

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
A nest of Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ants.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
A nest of Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ants.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
A nest of Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ants.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013