Portrait of Myrmecia nigrceps, the black-headed bull ant. Bull ants are among the largest ants in the world, some over an inch in length. 

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Nothomyrmecia macrops

Poochera, South Australia
Nothomyrmecia macrops

Poochera, South Australia
Nothomyrmecia macrops, queen

Poochera, South Australia
Ant colonies usually start small.  Here a young bull ant queen (Myrmecia pyriformis) tends to a larva in her incipient nest.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Predator and prey: Myrmecia pyriformis with a european hornet.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Myrmecia pyriformis
Myrmecia pilosula are spritely little bull ants with a distinctive jerky gait.  They are capable of jumping several centimeters, a behavior that has earned them the name "Jack-Jumper". 

Tower Hill, Victoria, Australia
Myrmecia pilosula jack-jumper ants from neighboring nests, engaged in battle.

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