''Myrmecia forficata'', commonly known as the inchman ant, is a species of
bull ant that is native to Australia. The ants are recorded in the south eastern part of the country, but are most common in the
Australian Alps at elevations above 300m but can be found down to sea level around
Melbourne and in
Tasmania.
The inchman is the most venomous of the bulldog ants, ranging from about long, but less aggressive than the
Jack jumper ant. These ants are purplish-brown, with a black abdomen. Their large size gave them their name, although most are slightly smaller than the traditional inch (25.4 mm). Their nests may be inconspicuously hidden under a rock or in a small hole.
As with many species of bulldog ants, the inchman are usually solitary when they forage, though they live in colonies like most ants. Inchman are carnivores and scavengers. They sting their victims with venom analogous to
stings of
wasps,
bees
Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamil ...
, and
fire ants. Their
venom is some of the most powerful in the insect world. The reputation for being the most venomous ant is possibly due to the tendency of the toxin to induce
anaphylaxis which can be fatal in some people.
The symptoms of the stings of the ants are similar to stings of the
fire ants. The reaction is local;
swelling,
reddening and fever, followed by formation of a
blister
A blister is a small pocket of body fluid (lymph, serum, plasma, blood, or pus) within the upper layers of the skin, usually caused by forceful rubbing (friction), burning, freezing, chemical exposure or infection. Most blisters are filled wi ...
. The heart rate increases, and blood pressure falls rapidly. In about 3% of cases, the sting causes
anaphylaxis. Treatment is very similar to
wasp and
bee
Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyly, monophyletic lineage within the ...
stings.
References
External links
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forficata
Insects of Australia
Insects described in 1858
{{Myrmeciinae-stub