Rhytidoponera aspersa

A worker ant transports eggs and young larvae among nest sites across the forest floor. Yarra Ranges National Park, Victoria, Australia.

Rhytidoponera aspersa

The beautiful Rhytidoponera aspersa. Bright, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera aspersa

The beautiful Rhytidoponera aspersa. Bright, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera aspersa

The beautiful Rhytidoponera aspersa. Bright, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera carinata

Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia

Rhytidoponera metallica

The greenheaded ant, Rhytidoponera metallica is capable of inflicting a very painful sting. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Rhytidoponera metallica

The green-headed ant Rhytidoponera metallica is a common soil-nesting ant in urban areas throughout Australia. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Rhytidoponera metallica

A trio of Rhytidoponera metallica workers. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Rhytidoponera metallica

Portrait of an older Rhytidoponera metallica worker. This ant is missing some leg and antennal segments, perhaps a result of fights with neighboring ant nests. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Rhytidoponera purpurea

The beautiful Rhytidoponera purpurea is found in the rainforests of northern Australia and New Guinea. It is one of many species whose distribution spans both islands, suggesting a recent land connection across the Torres straight. Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

Rhytidoponera purpurea

The beautiful Rhytidoponera purpurea is found in the rainforests of northern Australia and New Guinea. It is one of many species whose distribution spans both islands, suggesting a recent land connection across the Torres straight. Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis

A Rhytidoponera worker carries a cocoon. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis

An adult worker stands atop a pile of silken cocoons. Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia.

Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis

On a cold winter day, a Rhytidoponera forager slowly carries a fungus gnat she has caught back to her nest. Flying insects are easier prey for ants when immobilized at low temperatures. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia.

Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis

On a cold winter day, a Rhytidoponera forager slowly carries a fungus gnat she has caught back to her nest. Flying insects are easier prey for ants when immobilized at low temperatures. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia.

Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis

Rhytidoponera sp. worker. Insects of this genus are among the most common ants on the Australian continent. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis

Rhytidoponera worker ant. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis

Rhytidoponera worker ant. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis

Ants will not often consume dead ants of their own species, but they may readily take ant carcasses of other species. Here a Rhytidoponera worker has found the carcass of a large Camponotus and is dragging it back to her nest where it will be fed to hungry larvae. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis

Rhytidoponera ants cooperate to carry a dead caterpillar back to their nest. Wilson's Promontory National Park, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera turneri

Rhytidoponera turneri Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia

Rhytidoponera victoriae

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera victoriae

A worker ant carries a silken cocoon in the brood nest. Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia.

A pile of Rhytidoponera victoriae pupae in the brood nest. The silken cocoons protect the pupae from desiccation, among other threats. Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera victoriae with springtail

Ant nests house more than just ants! Here, a springtail poses with its much larger host. Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia