Chelaner antarcticus
New Zealand’s most abundant ant is invisible to the vast majority of kiwis.
The Southern Ant is perhaps New Zealand’s least conspicuous, yet most common ant species.
These ants also vary widely in size and colour, ranging from 3-5mm in length and from light orange to black. Due to this variance in appearance it is likely that Southern ants are actually a complex of multiple closely related species.
Workers are polymorphic, meaning some are ‘majors’, with larger heads and mandibles meant for defense and labour.
On warm February nights, males and queens emerge to mate afterwhich queens break off their wings and begin founding a new colony.
Due to their generally small size, you may have to crouch down close the ground in order to see the workers.
Check these links for more info on the Southern Ant in NZ
Wikipedia: Information on Chelaner antarcticus
Landcare Research: Chelaner antarcticus (Smith, F., 1858)
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