rainbow referring blue green genus described austrian placed subfamily family described species fossil species ants native australia found countries islands asia areas oceania introduced brazil new_zealand fossil species known china france united_states ants known dominant important group ants regarded soil enter human houses farmers rural australia place animal meat method meat ants consume reduce bones matter weeks meat ants engage fighting helps prevent casualties solve territorial disputes neighbouring colonies largest members genus species group measuring millimetres flight queen ants establish colony colony new location multiple queens help find suitable nesting spot display workers present eggs days fully develop adults genus lives wide variety habitats nests soil numbers range couple individuals single colony depending species nests large covered multiple entrances live ground nests cases ants nest sites connected paths nests extend metres length species associate butterflies provide ants ants predators hunt prey feed young notably ants immune cane feed juveniles predators spiders birds ants prey ants phylogeny separation genus recent common ancestor began million years ago sister group species genera age comparison australian genera subfamily clade million years old meaning young fossil species found following shows phylogenetic position australian genera taxonomy genus described austrian designated type species type species designated synonym genus placed subfamily year subfamily established establishment genus suffered taxonomic misunderstanding gradual development unrelated ants designated genus early researchers failed identify easily features distinct genus person question genus mentioning argentine member differed rest genus proper revisions genus began 1990s species transferred genera species remained revisions species placed genera genus revised species extinct species present newly described species placed different genera species subspecies classified synonyms according source australian species present scientific genus meaning rainbow refers blue green word meaning rainbow derives greek word means species extinct species marked description unlike genera margin instead located eyes located ants head noticeably distant ants range small medium members species group measure millimetres reddish brown colour distinctive members species group largest millimetres worker rarely based observations workers deformed born example captured specimen fused present enlarged despite worker able forage little trouble distribution habitat ants genus found countries islands spanning continents region ants found fiji indonesia australia found state territory new_zealand genus introduced country establishing asia found burma india malaysia philippines known genus present middle_east having introduced introduced brazil human activity populations present islands norfolk island oceania extinct species native countries modern distribution genus fossils found china france united_states genus inhabits rural arid semi arid areas nests found woodland forests city parks heath sand dunes woodland swamps urban gardens wet rain forests wet dry woodland buildings hotels houses ants nest soil prefer live rocks rotten wood cases sandy beaches certain species avoid nesting sandy soil nests vary appearance species live small single entrance species create large covered multiple entrances colonies known create super nests workers construct nests connected established paths extending metres length extreme case single colony found occupy hectares land individual nests entrance holes meat ants aggressive nest mates aggressive live different nests colony nests ground species alternating winter nests constructed twigs ants moving underground warmer months underground nests located near areas food sources present colonies relocate nests areas reasonable levels sunlight winter behaviour ecology species aggressive ants attack attacks nests trails forage noticeable particular member species species group pour nest attack kill smaller species similar ants nests bite spray defensive chemical found genus large numbers aggression ants dominant australia species known obtain exclusive possession food sources prevent insects ants affect foraging nests living nearby active large numbers ants known aggression shy workers run hide disturbed avoid contact species nests disturbed workers attack instead relocate brood disregard disturbances occur workers hide leaves vegetation cases workers remain threat danger meat ants engage fights maintain resolve boundary disputes neighbouring colonies individuals separate colonies meet engage occurs meat foreign worker intense stretch upward appear taller larger suggesting meat ants display size matching ants finished fighting groom search disputes colonies continue months years area escalated fights result injury death rare foraging species predators ants tend insects butterfly larvae receive workers forage small insects collect flowers hunt prey ants normally forage ground species forage trees vegetation look food ants nocturnal nocturnal ants active day depends weather block entrance holes daytime nocturnal comes day species nest placed shaded area warm early workers forage shortly sunrise diet primarily feeds sweet foods hunt insects ants feed young workers particularly attracted seeds collect seeds remove seeds seeds benefit proximity aggressive ants giving better chance survival colonies nest regularly preyed evidence kind relationship predatory known juvenile cane preyed certain species immune released cane result placing nests habitats house cane suggested method controlling cane population meat known australia feeds predators species predation ants spider particular spider specialist predator ants use alarm released ants territorial disputes locate australian devil sit wait predator primarily ants reject specific species genus eating blind snake follows trails laid ants locate potential prey species eat species ground beetles dig near nests prey workers passing prominent predator short eats virgin queens flight high percentage fat consume ants year instead usually attack nests august october winged females males known emerge nest queens face threats flight birds attracted recently excavated soil dig nests shortly queens founded colonies parasitic class known life cycle reproduction flight occurs year humid warm climates begin emerge nest immediately climb tall structures tree fence posts begin fly depending species queen mates single male multiple males observations meat males begin fly followed queens groups queens approach nest fly warm proceed multiple times days climate changes queens withdrawn nest mating males soon die queens proceed search suitable nest establish colony finding location nest dangerous birds ants prey disease starvation causes death queens queens establish nest nests established queens cooperate adopted existing colony called colony including queens workers brood eggs larvae leave main colony alternative nest site queens cooperate queen colony foundation queen excavated chamber lay eggs develop larvae month eggs days fully develop emerge adults mature nests range size workers colonies meaning single queen colonies colonies exist multiple queens present tolerated equally workers different mothers exists queens brood discrimination known based recognition queens look brood neglect brood laid different queens queens display generation workers present queens separate colony grows certain size ants share relationships workers protect feeding chambers inside nest genus workers attend butterflies northern varied genus include silky additional species workers attend include pale blue blue pencil blue bright blue blue blue copper spotted fringed heath blue blue effective study suggests harmed contact ants meat ants observed blocking banded sugar nesting holes soil prevent leaving nest early hours day ants counter preventing meat ants leaving nest blocking nesting holes debris behaviour known nest meat nests trees shade banded sugar ants invade nest health colony deteriorate members affected meat colony later nearby satellite nest placed suitable area invading banded sugar ants fill nest galleries black material interaction humans rural australia meat ants important farmers place animal nests matter weeks entire consumed reduced bones ants considered ants entering human houses feed food soil disturbance nests difficult nests rival colony adjoining nests affected particular species adapted early days canberra newly constructed suburbs provided new nest sites meat ants populations flourished factors include plantations enriched valuable food sources home gardens workers cause problems citrus producers affect biological control insects specifically produce
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