jack jack commonly known jumping jack species native australia commonly found tasmania southeast australia member genus subfamily formally described named british species known ability jump long distances ants large workers males approximately size millimetres workers millimetres males queen measures approximately millimetres length similar appearance workers males identifiable smaller jack ants primarily active day live open habitats nesting woodland dry open forests surrounded gravel sandy soil found rural areas common urban areas prey small insects use kill insects venom ants predatory invertebrates prey jack average worker life year workers allowing reproduce queen present colony species complex members complex known single pair sting generally causes mild local reaction humans species dangerous humans ants genus venom particularly insect venom venom causes australian endemic areas human population developed venom half people suffer reactions increased heart rate falling blood pressure symptoms lead death rare occasions deaths jack tasmania individuals prone severe reactions caused sting treated taxonomy common names specific derives latin word meaning covered soft hair identified british catalogue insects collection specimens collected tasmania smith described specimens worker queen male type specimen located london american established subgenus characterised jumping behaviour jack designated type species later subgenus placed subgenus lack morphological evidence distinct later placed jack genus synonym species published titled described smith work male specimen originally described synonym initially placed genera later classified junior synonym jack specimens compared species complex species group defined italian species complex group species closely related actual genetic relationship distant members group include additional species described group include characteristic jumping motion agitated foraging common jack behaviour shared ants common black jumping jumping jack named jumping jack species member genus subfamily description like relatives possesses powerful sting large ants black red colour yellow orange legs medium sized comparison species workers typically millimetres long excluding jack measure millimetres length antennae yellow orange hair short erect longer abundant absent antennae short legs male grey long abundant body legs long slender measuring millimetres outer border queen similar appearance workers middle body irregular queen largest measuring millimetres length males smaller size workers measuring millimetres males smaller triangular workers queens male contain large tooth centre apex base inner border tiny dots noticeable head large shallow irregularly punctuated male white yellowish distribution habitat jack ants abundant australia common bull encountered ants found south western tip western_australia seen sand hills albany denmark rarely sighted northern regions western_australia south_australia commonly found south east regions state frequently encountered particularly found north western regions dense populations western jack widespread victoria species uncommon melbourne populations collected suburb commonly found great ranges nests observed new_south_wales nests found entire state exception north western new_south_wales dense populations found coastal regions ants widespread australian capital territory queensland ants found south eastern coastlines state populations frequently encountered found far north resides tasmania presence verified jack ants live open habitats damp areas forests gardens preferring fine gravel sandy soil colonies spotted light preferred natural habitats include woodlands dry open forests rural areas common urban areas nests built finely gravel soil measuring centimetres diameter tall half metre height types nests species described simple nest noticeable shaft inside complex structure surrounded mound ants warmth nests dry materials heat quick duration providing nest solar energy traps nests seeds soil stones sticks small corpses camouflage nests covering leaf litter debris long grass nest nests found hidden rocks queens likely form colony small piles gravel instead range southern australia like regional species appears like jack found dry forests elevations ranging metres averaging metres beetles genus generally thrive jack nests raise brood chambers found nests populations dense higher mountain regions tasmania widespread state presence known located north west tasmania prefers rural areas found warm dry open woodlands climate provides isolation warmth environment produces food includes prey suburban areas found native vegetation use cracks concrete walls dry dirt grass build nests study found suburbs vegetation cover tree host jack populations heavily suburbs battery point pest control jack successful maintaining populations suburban habitats chemicals like effective nests effective way controlling nests close range areas considerable amounts congestion human activity pouring carbon nest holes covering entrances soil method removing colonies effective strategy marking maintaining jack nests behaviour ecology primarily workers search food day dusk active warmer months dormant winter fights ants colony uncommon known aggression humans attraction movement developed vision able observe follow metre away species accomplished ants leaps ranging inches compared jack ants cavalry battle disturbed jumping behaviour wrote appearance emerge nests series short studies established ants contain alarm relative capable inducing territorial alarm proven explain ability attack foraging workers regularly observed subfamily seen ants jaw habit cleaning leaves stems rich plants moving preventing exchange unknown jack ants contribute prey unlike ants use scent forage food jack use sight target prey like bull ants solitary forage workers perform role ants typically foraging warmer temperatures deliver painful effective killing prey predators jack smooth sting indefinitely jack ants skilled hunters partially excellent vision kill bees kill eat ants carpenter ants feed sweet floral sugar solutions jack hunt spiders follow prey short distance usually small insects small jack ants alongside given frozen food testing conditions observed run leap flies land particularly shrubs plants trees jack ants prey insects mature adult ants species eat sweet substances dead insects given larvae collected foraging larvae fed insects reached particular size workers collect small insects insects taken nest feed young observations fly predation jack ants attack smaller fly species ignore larger flies predators parasites family known consume smaller avoid vulnerable predatory invertebrates assassin bugs spiders prey jack ants particularly short hunt jack ants eating larvae eggs assassin bug species lure ants trying sting jack host parasite ants host parasite change colour typical black appearance brown discovered brown jack found spores black jack showed spores present large numbers parasite normal stage cuticle parasite life cycle like life jack starts egg egg female male develop complete meaning pass stage emerging adult isolated colony able shed skin hatching allowing advance emerge stage assistance ants born jack ants identify distinct tasks obvious primitive trait ants known based observations worker ants average life jack years workers shown live little years long queen living longer workers years gives life days average days egg common observed laboratory colonies carried worker ants contain eggs larvae hold confirms eggs jack colonies lie singly apart studied described larvae collected new_south_wales south_australia noted young larvae jack millimetres length types body hair described young larvae matured young larvae similar body characteristics mature larvae reproduction queens meaning queens mate queens mate males flight effective number mates queen ranges studies queen ants mate males number available male mates increases number effective queen decreases colonies meaning colony house multiple queens average queens colony multiple queen colonies egg laying queens unrelated based study colonies tested showing common jack colonies queen establishes nest mating hunt food feed young making semi nests hold ants excavated nests typically populations ranging individuals jack workers having ability reproduce colonies queens colonies mainly queens jack colonies low comparison ants comparable ants investigated genetic structure jack colonies queens unrelated mentioned previously occurrence related queens single colony possible colony foundation suggestions dependent colony foundation jack queens independent colony foundations occur queens fully developed wings fly isolation distance patterns recorded specifically nests tend closer genetically similar comparison nests farther away colonies closer genetically similar independent colony foundation likely associated flight disperse far genetically similar colonies originate queens seek adoption alien colonies suitable nest site area independent colony foundation restricted carried known nest site limitation hypothesis queens try return nests came flight end nest association nests nearby similar queens birth nest jack contained single pair males lowest number known possible animal number shared parasitic jack ants discussed single biological species species complex yielded interaction humans history earliest known account sting fatalities australia recorded adults infant girl new_south_wales died possibly jack years later fatality reported tasmania historical results suggested species species responsible recorded deaths recorded deaths tasmania shock known patients died jack years old severe detected died victims died minutes prior program established fatality rate person years sting venom body extract widely apparent effectiveness ants fatal failures reported led scientists researching alternative methods body extract later proven ineffective venom found safe effective use drew medical attention jack history records reactions study sting venom identification venom began early 1990s preparation use body extracts patients found ineffective later withdrawn venom shown reduce risk reactions demonstrating provided sting professor established jack program program risk closure establishment program death recorded responsible death man extent jack sting problem differs areas prevalence rates significantly lower highly areas higher rural areas ants represent hazard people southern states australia high proportion population having significant sting significant cause major insect responsible cases australia rates twice million annually die general australia australian venom caused jack notorious tasmania fatalities recorded quarter jack sting incidents sustained tasmania excessive comparison population people jack single common cause patients major cause outside tasmania notably adelaide outskirts melbourne cases new_south_wales western_australia distributed adults reported suffer jack ants venom jack relatives genus dangerous genera extreme aggression world dangerous jack compared highly aggressive species red imported fire retractable sting located abdomen attached single venom connected venom sac venom accumulated known jack produce venom compounds later victims venom contains elements contains range active ingredients activity includes acid venom contains causes effects properties known major include known molecular weights lethal dose occurs lower concentration found bee venom value injected mice loss cell viability jack venom researched measures proportions cells glow presence examinations rapidly showed cells lost viability minutes exposed normal white blood cells found alter easily exposed partial efficient lowering cell viability terminal plays critical role activity percent jack ants venom sac failure display sting reaction interpreted loss sensitivity substantial amounts venom analysed venom components jack main subject studies study summarised knowledge venom showed fire jack components venom extensively investigated components include found ants including jack capable inducing vast venom produced species species sharing similar characteristics jack responsible reaction difficult review patients history identifying positive result venom specific levels helps identify species caused reaction signs symptoms reactions ants sting similar symptoms fire local swelling lasts days swelling lips face eyes occur minor reaction common symptoms include eyes nose begin develop anxiety occur jack bees common causes insect people commonly feel sharp pain similar electric shock patients develop skin reaction occurs sting severe occurs times adults heart rate increases blood pressure falls rapidly people experience mild skin suffer severe reaction wide variety symptoms includes difficulty breathing talking tongue throat swell chest abdominal pain occur lose consciousness collapse people collapse confusion children symptoms severe reaction occurs individuals venom population sting causes shock comparison insects western european wasp rates annual sting exposure rates jack western european wasp median time sting cardiac arrest minutes maximum period hours disappear people jack likely suffer reaction approximately percent patients history reaction sting reaction comparison reaction figures rate half reactions life threatening occurred predominantly people previous incidents sting jack rare residents semi rural victoria reactions sting according sensitivity persistent years australian venom study conducted goal determining native australian ants associated sting showed jack responsible majority patients reactions patients reacted sting belonging genus jack patients reacted ants study concluded native species australian ants caused apart species green head responsible reactions people recover following mild local reaction individuals suffer severe reaction individuals suffer severe reactions likely encounter reaction fatalities rare venom prevent fatalities aid emergency treatment signs reaction present ice pack commercially available relieve pain recommended treat jack sting treatments include washing area soap water continuous pain remains days taken days emergency treatment needed case severe reaction calling help laying person legs suggested depending patients needs given use case scenario experiencing adrenaline required severe suffer cardiac arrest need additionally case victim experiences reaction sting use ace recommended known increase risk like anti effect bush treat jack sting young tips provide useful bush remedy treat jack discovered currently indigenous australians tips area relieve local pain getting plant bush remedy known angular sea prevention called jack sting venom shown effectiveness preventing jack venom unlike bee wasp sting jack lacks funding government available venom available commercial venom extract available skin testing venom extract available offers program patients severe reaction jack sting program face closure budget cuts professor founded program commented closing program leave patients hanging campaign program available victoria runs small scale program patients ants venom patients given injection venom skin small amounts dose small gradually increase injection sort designed change immune system increased venom entering body follow ups people thirty history severe reactions greatly benefit venom rapid slow safely capacity induce effect venom effective reducing reactions comparison body extract patients likely suffer reaction initiation insect results higher risks reactions despite successful percent patients response suggested people avoid jack difficult closed boots shoes reduce chances encountering sting wearing person risk said capable fabric find way gaps clothing occur people taking extra caution avoiding altogether recommended people avoid encountering jack moving locations jack populations low absent eliminate nearby nests ants different people advised stay away ants especially ones encountered
Jack jumper ant