known black headed bull species endemic australia member genus subfamily described austrian ants large varying millimetres length colonies contain workers smaller usually half size normal workers queens largest males smallest easily identified small mainly nocturnal found hot hilly areas woodland nesting underground diet consists sweet flowering plants prey fed larvae spiders known eat ants consume larvae like species ants possess powerful painful sting venom capable inducing reactions sensitive people taxonomy identified provided description journal species described based workers collected sydney swiss treated variant eventually treated synonym revived species american basis distributed australia average size greater scottish born australian published synonym considered junior synonym member genus primitive subfamily ancestors genus found fossils exception dinosaur member species group largest species group groups described specific combination derives latin word meaning black derived greek word meaning head references distinctive black head said commonly known black headed bull description size worker ants varies millimetres colonies contain small workers usually half size normal sized workers despite known little differences morphology workers comparison ants soldiers having enormous heads queens largest measuring millimetres males similar sizes worker ants millimetres head black red yellowish red antennae legs yellow yellow hair short yellow colour erect body legs short fine soft hair white abundant head broad total length longer head teeth present queen similar appearance worker largest members colony hair abundant head broader shorter broader long head wings yellowish colour translucent appearance males smallest members colony easily identifiable smaller hairs males longest abundant worker queen long broad head similar appearance morphological characters distinguish species example generally larger head black dark brown head broader rectangular workers noticeably darker brownish red nests behaviour ants similar distribution habitat distributed australia absent areas central australia northern australian coast range extends queensland new_south_wales australian capital territory victoria found south_australia western_australia colonies found coastal areas woodland native vegetation hot hilly areas covered vegetation sites elevations ranging metres mound constructing species colonies found logs workers nest variety items including soil similar fashion meat nests items nest include small stones plant material behaviour ecology ants nocturnal searching food night workers found foraging trees species adults feeding sweet plants larvae feeding captured invertebrates ants workers males repel attacks attacking workers workers begin forage hour sunset peak activity occurring twilight hours ants excellent vision having largest eye lenses ants capable distance size objects moving nearly metre away sensitive motion rapidly charge moving objects attack ants preyed short spiders genus particularly known consume larvae ants colonies host social parasite lays eggs inside colony extremely aggressive larger colonies rival colonies different species terms cause little pain humans equipped painful powerful sting found end like ants sting barbed workers able sting multiple times injuring median lethal dose venom relatively weak comparison ants lower study patient reaction venom study concluded species cause green head sting pain scale scale compares overall pain point scale sting ranked pain described painful ants able enter colonies reside attacked ants failing recognise foreigners consequences ignoring workers colonies low flight occurs rain days taking place summer mid autumn december march males virgin queens emerge nest unlike species mate ground climb nearby trees branches fly reproductive fly nest recorded flights usually took place queens known seal entrance colony foundation unlike species workers live exceptionally long average lifespan years maximum longevity workers varied years
Myrmecia nigriceps