Saturday, March 13, 2010

MYRMECIA GULOSA



MYRMECIA GULOSA or Red Bull Ant often called the ‘Giant Bull Ant’


Autumn has arrived and the temperature has fallen enough to peel ourselves away from the surf, for a walk in ‘The Bush’ (Royal National Park).


The walk started at the picnic ground at Audley. Along the walk, we spotted a few new birds: one was a Red-browed Finch. There were also some amazingly coloured dragonflies, a blood gum tree and then, we discovered the Red Bull Ant!


The Red Bull Ant is by far the most aggressive ant I have ever seen. The one in the picture kept Kay busy while some of his friends flanked her and I am glad to say, they only managed to get there mandibles stuck into Kay’s socks. The only way to remove them was by physically pulling them off. One didn’t give up even after I had sadly pulled off half his body; the angry ant was still trying to bite.

The walk ended at Audley with a bacon and beef pie with hot chips. The Cockatoo’s thought it quite OK to help themselves to my hot chips too; cheeky birds!


ColKay