Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

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To see a diagram of a worker ant illustrating terminology, visit:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaster_(insect_anatomy)#/media/File:Scheme_ant_worker_anatomy-en.svg

Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

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HelenCross wrote:

Yesterday

Well done Frecko!

Calyptomyrmex beccarii

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

3 Feb 2026

Fantastic record - Frecko well done

Calyptomyrmex beccarii

JonLewis wrote:

3 Feb 2026

Hi Frecko, as per our earlier messages, this sighting has been confirmed as Calyptomyrmex beccarii by Steve Shattuck, ex CSIRO, who did a revision of this genus about 15 years ago. To quote Steve, the sighting is "amazing and totally unexpected".

Previous to your sighting there has been only one reliable record from NSW, and that was from the Iluka Nature Reserve on the far north coast of NSW. Your sighting is a major extension of the previously known range of this genus and takes it into a geographical area which is much drier and cooler than would have been expected - all other records are from tropical or sub-tropical locations. Thanks for for putting it on NatureMapr! Cheers, Jon

Calyptomyrmex beccarii

KMcCue wrote:

2 Feb 2026

Thanks Jon, I'll just have to try harder, give me a week.

Formicidae (family)

JonLewis wrote:

2 Feb 2026

Hi KMcCue, sorry, the ants are too small to see clearly in the photo and the material around the nest entrance doesn't help much. There are a lot of ants (particularly in grasslands) that collect grass and other seeds and discard the bits they don't want in a pile outside the nest. Perhaps you have a friend with a better camera? Cheers, Jon

Formicidae (family)