Rhytidoponera aspersa

The beautiful Rhytidoponera aspersa. Bright, Victoria, Australia

The beautiful Rhytidoponera aspersa. Bright, Victoria, Australia

The beautiful Rhytidoponera aspersa. Bright, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera carinata Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia

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

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

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

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

A Rhytidoponera worker carries a cocoon. 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

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

Rhytidoponera sp. worker ant. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

Rhytidoponera sp. worker ant. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

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

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

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 turneri Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia

Rhytidoponera victoriae 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

Rhytidoponera victoriae & Pheidole sp.

Ants fight over the rich resources in a fresh pile of Emu feces. In ant battles numbers usually prevail over size, and in this case the larger Rhytidoponera was killed by her opponents. Tower Hill Reserve, Victoria, Australia.

Rhytidoponera victoriae & Amblyopone ferruginea

The worst enemies of ants are often other ants. Here, a Rhytidoponera victoriae scout (at left) has discovered an Amblyopone ferruginea worker and attempts to wrestle it back to her nest. If successful, she will kill the Amblyopone and feed her to the larvae. Amblyopone is too specialized as an underground predator to be good at general fighting, so is at a disadvantage here. Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia