Rhytidoponera metallica
| Latin Name: |  |
Rhytidoponera metallica |
| Trivialname: |  |
|
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Ectatomminae Tribe: Ectatommini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) show higher requirements to climate and escapeprevention |
| Distribution: |  |
East Australia, Tasmania |
| Habitate: |  |
Sclerophyllforest |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne also polygyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 8mm Colour: purple metallic |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 4 - 4,5mm Colour: purple metallic, slim |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: - Colour: similar to workers |
| Nutrion: |  |
honeywater, insects (caterpillars, mealworms, small fruit flies, small crickets and Spring tails), Fruits, seeds with fatbodys like viola spec. . |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 60% Nestpart: 50 - 80% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 21 - 30°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
Nest in soil, often under Stones and rotten wood |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Ytong/Plaster |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: S - M |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-loam Arena: Sand-loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to sclerophyll Rainforest |
| Decoration: |  |
stones, Leaf litter, Twigs |
| Description: |  |
These is a small very common Rhytidoponera from eastaustralia. They are not able to climb on smooth surfaces like glass. The genus Rhytidoponera is important for the dispersal of many seeds and the resulting vegetation. After the death of the queen workers are often able to mate and produce new workers on there own. Worker can then often be seen fighting and a appoint the dominant worker. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: - founding: semiclaustral colonysize: a few hundred workers , polygynous nest up to 2000 workers |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |