Myrmecia gratiosa is an Australian ant which belongs to the genus Myrmecia. Native to Australia, this species is mainly found in Western Australia.[1] During a study in Perth, it was realised that Myrmecia gratiosa was located in all locations where reactions in patients occurred. This concludes the species was responsible for ant sting anaphylaxis around Perth.[2]
| Myrmecia gratiosa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Myrmecia gratiosa worker | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmeciinae |
| Genus: | Myrmecia |
| Species: | M. gratiosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Myrmecia gratiosa Clark, 1951
| |
Appearance
editWorker ants of Myrmecia gratiosa are 21-23 millimetres long. Queens are larger while the drones (males) are slightly smaller. Myrmecia gratiosa's head, antennae, thorax, and legs are in a reddish yellow colour. Their mandibles are in a pale yellow colour while the gaster is black.[3][4]
References
edit- ^ "Myrmecia gratiosa Clark, 1951". Atlas of Living Australia. Govt of Australia. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
- ^ "Anaphylaxis to bull dog ant and jumper ant stings around Perth, Western Australia". Emerg Med Australas. 18. Emergency Medicine Australasia: 15–22. 18 February 2006. doi:10.1111/j.1742-6723.2006.00799.x. PMID 16454770.
- ^ Clark, John (1951). The Formicidae of Australia (Volume 1) (PDF). Melbourne: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia. pp. 66–67.
- ^ Wheeler, GC (1971). Ant larvae of the subfamily Myrmeciinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pan-Pac. p. 246.