Rhytidoponera aspersa (queen)

Description

Rhytidoponera aspersa benefits from the Fourmiculture for our ants:
1. Breeding approved by the Veterinary Services, conducted by a specialist with a certificate of competence,
2. Free "Perfect Ant Keeper's Guide" and information sheet provided,
3. Ants guaranteed parasite-free,
4. Guaranteed fertilized queen,
5. No "boost" (addition of brood or external workers to sell colonies faster),
6. Guaranteed delivery in good health: partial refund in case of worker loss, full refund in case of queen loss (if delivered within 48 hours),
8. Species present in Australia, non-invasive and not threatened,
9. Colony buyback and costs covered if you wish to part with it (see conditions)
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Guaranteed fertilized queens, ready to lay eggs (most are currently broodless as they were recently collected). Place at 27°C upon receipt to encourage laying.

A very pretty species endemic to Australia, with a metallic coloration, similar to *Metallica*! Very unusual. Also called the Green-headed Ant.

Rhytidoponera aspersa are common ants in natural and urban habitats, being abundant in a wide range of situations.

Warning: capable of stinging.

Rhytidoponera aspersa is a prolific seed disperser. It disperses between 43% and 97% of seeds (Beaumont et al. 2011, 2013), transports seeds over greater distances than other ant species, promotes greater seed dispersal through re-dispersal processes (Beaumont et al. 2013), and buries a large proportion of seeds in an area of ​​potential germination. This species feeds on seeds, insects, and sugary liquids. It is often nomadic and may relocate its nest.

These ants measure between 5 and 7 mm. Queens and workers look alike, differing only in size, with males being the smaller of the two. They are well known for their distinctive metallic sheen, which ranges from green to purple, and even reddish-purple. Among the most widespread insects in Australia, green-headed ants are found in almost every Australian state, but are absent from Tasmania. They have also been introduced to New Zealand, where several populations have become established.

This species lives in a variety of habitats, including deserts, forests, woodlands, and urban areas. It nests underground, under logs, stones, twigs, and shrubs, or in decaying stumps, and is sometimes found living in termite mounds. They are among the first insects to arrive in burned areas after the embers have stopped smoldering. Rain poses no threat to the colonies as long as it is a light shower in full sun. The green-headed ant is diurnal, active throughout the day, and preys on arthropods and small insects or collects sugary substances such as honeydew from sap-sucking insects.

Green-headed ants are gamergates, meaning they can mate with winged males. With workers fulfilling reproductive roles, queens are relatively insignificant and rarely produced in colonies. Nuptial flight begins in spring, with males mating with one or two females. Queens that establish their own colonies are semi-claustral, venturing out and foraging to provide for their young. Remember to feed the queens during colony establishment! Another way colonies form is by budding, where a subset of the colony leaves the main colony for a different nesting site. Green-headed ants are known for their painful, venomous sting, which can cause anaphylactic shock in sensitive humans. However, they can also be beneficial to humans, acting as a form of pest control by preying on agricultural pests such as beetles, moths, and termites.