species endemic australia subfamily discovered described ants large measuring millimetres time discovery douglas brown announced social parasite primitive today known species worker host species known aggression host species occur colonies produce brood months queens begin lay eggs queens eat colony brood eggs species kill queens reject restricted distribution threats habitat vulnerable according taxonomy discovery scientists believed parasitic ants exist primitive known authors believed primitive ants lacked certain trait prevent parasitic ants forming discovery hints possible parasitic army ants brown collected specimens large fallen trees western_australia officially announced parasitic primitive australian naturalist american provided description journal article specific epithet derives word meaning tenant references parasitic nature species living inside colony guest species brown discovered female nest march northwest western australia specimen currently housed perth females collected looking similar varies darker published journal reviewing species groups assigned species group placed species group month placing species group description large species smaller host body length millimetres head including millimetres millimetres diameter eyes millimetres slender shaped teeth antennae similar smaller comparison longer wider narrow seen queens legs antennae covered spots distinguished ants lack long soft hairs small erect found apex short hair found legs soft short hair finer abundant colour shorter noticeable conspicuous colour head black reddish brown frontal legs brownish red light legs yellowish certain areas antennae brownish yellow teeth black edges overall distinguished black head body colour similar larger covered hair head rounded species worker making parasite males collected nest presumed similarities species confirm males males collected similar males head darker specimens reddish brown colour base segment characteristic occur males similar detailed study distinguish features ants distribution habitat found south west western_australia collected kilometres miles perth occurs colonies found soil logs flat rocks woodland commonly found granite wooded areas trees large unidentified species possibly present type locality area cleared agricultural purposes areas wooded fallen large trees present typically found deep inside nests centimetres inches found queen behaviour ecology known species worker colonies species colonies house dozen queens nesting colony originally females ants lose wings parasitic queen indefinitely queens replace host brood eggs months nest occurs queens eat destroy brood laid host workers tend brood protect potential invaders queens tend nest near host queen brood attended worker ants form aggression observations suggest parasitic queens feed eggs laid workers predatory threats include species rejected potential host colony example workers immediately seize queens kill soon species come contact aerial important species despite restricted distribution queens forage outside leave nest severe flight fully developed females start occur summer january queens males start emerge host nest begin mate observations climb objects lamps begin fly half hour endless running queens looking host nest wandering openly identify queen seize behaviour suggests workers actively recruit queens nest host colonies tend smaller compared colonies queens host colonies produce offspring status species genus listed vulnerable needs habitat loss responsible potentially endangered douglas brown note contamination spray control argentine destroyed nests housing burn offs threat colonies housing
Myrmecia inquilina