St. Valentine's Ant (species: Crematogaster sp.) in Lizard Island Field Guide (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Lizard Island Field Guide > Terrestrial Life > Insects > Hymenoptera > Ants > Crematogaster sp. (gallery)
Crematogaster sp.
St. Valentine's Ant


©Anne Hoggett: Crematogaster sp. at Lizard Island Research Station. Photo id by Dr Ben Hoffmann, CSIRO.

©Anne Hoggett: Crematogaster sp. at Lizard Island Research Station. Photo id by Dr Ben Hoffmann, CSIRO.

©Anne Hoggett: Crematogaster sp. at Lizard Island Research Station.

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Kingdom Animalia
Species Crematogaster sp.

Lizard Island area: all known taxa
Lizard Island Field Guide

Colours

         

Distinguishing features

A small (~3 mm), golden brown ant with black, heart-shaped gaster (bulbous, posterior portion of abdomen) that can be raised above the body when disturbed. Thanks to Dr Ben Hoffman (CSIRO) for the identification.

Common names for this group are St Valentine's Ant (for the heart-shaped gaster), and Acrobat Ant and Cocktail Ant (for its habit of raising the gaster).

It is similar in size and colouration to the invasive and destructive 'Singapore Ant', Trichomyrmex mayri, which is present at Lizard Island Resort but not at Lizard Island Research Station (as at Oct 2022).

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Synonyms

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