In over sixty years of roaming the bush, the thing that’s given me the most unexpected surprises is…… the bulldog ant. You can be standing there at peace with the world, tuned in to the beauties of nature, when suddenly, something inserts what feels like a red hot wire into your leg. When you hit the ground again and tear up the leg of your trousers you find the culprit, a bulldog ant, and I can tell you I’ve performed many a war dance. Bulldog ants, Myrmecia species, are about 30 mm long, and aggressive. They have very powerful jaws they use to grasp and hold while they drive in their sting, injecting formic acid.
I went to check one of the bird baths yesterday, it was dry, and I saw what I thought was a wasp in the bottom. However, when I put on my glasses I saw that it was a winged bulldog ant, the first I’ve seen, and I suspect, a young queen ready to start a new colony. She was on the rim when I returned with the camera, and I just had time to take a few quick shots before she spread her wings and flew, hopefully well away, I don’t think I want a colony of bulldogs in the garden —- although you know, I feel privileged to have seen her.
Click to enlarge.