Myrmecia tarsata

Myrmecia tarsata is a bull ant species native to Australia. The species belongs to the genus Myrmecia. Their distribution is large, mainly around New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.^[1]

Myrmecia tarsata
Myrmecia tarsata specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmeciinae
Genus:	Myrmecia
Species:	M. tarsata
Binomial name
Myrmecia tarsata Smith, 1858

Appearance

Myrmecia tarsata is quite a large bull ant at 22–24 millimetres (0.87–0.94 in) long, with the males being slightly smaller. The head, thorax, and other distinct features are mainly black, mandibles are yellow, and legs look to be a reddish yellow colour.^[2][3]

The species of Myrmecia tarsata are known to have the gamergates gene, which workers are able to reproduce. This gene allows their colonies to last a while without a queen.^[4]