''Myrmecia vindex'' is a species of '' Myrmecia'' which is endemic to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. As a subgroup of the ''Myrmecia gulosa'' species group, these ants are also commonly known as the Bull Ant. The ''Myrmecia vindex'' was collected and described by

Frederick Smith Frederick, Frederic or Fred Smith may refer to: In literature *Frederick Smith, 2nd Earl of Birkenhead (1907–1975), British peer and biographer *Frederick Smith, 3rd Earl of Birkenhead (1936–1985), British peer and author * Frederick E. Smith ...

in 1858.

Appearance

''Myrmecia vindex''s are around 21 millimetres long on average, and they have normally have a red head, and a black abdomen. Their mandibles are long, strongly toothed, and appears in a yellow palish colour.

Habitat

These ants are commonly found in Western Australia, but also range further into South Australia. They prefer to live in open, dry woodland habitat.

Behavior

The nocturnal ''M.'' ''vindex'' relies exclusively on vision for navigation with eyes having ultraviolet-, blue- and a green-sensitive photoreceptor cells. Compared to other species within the genus ''Myrmecia'', ''M. vindex'' are socially less evolved and typically have small populations. During the height of their breeding season, ''Myrmecia vindex'' commonly pile discarded cocoons and shed exoskeletons on the crater of their nest, near the entrance.

References

vindex Hymenoptera of Australia Insects of Australia Insects described in 1858 {{Myrmeciinae-stub