Fulakora saundersi
Fulakora saundersi (Forel 1892), commonly known as "The New Zealand Michelin Ant", is a species of ant within the family of formicidae in the genus fulakora, found throughout New Zealand.
| Fulakora saundersi | |
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| Fulakora saundersi worker | |
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| Species: | F. saundersi |
| Binomial name | |
| Fulakora saundersi | |
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Amblyopone saundersi Forel, 1892[1] Stigmatomma saundersi (Forel, 1892)[1] | |
Description
The New Zealand Michelin ant worker can reach lengths of 3 to 5 millimeters (outstretched and including mandible), with a dark brown head and thorax.[2] The abdomen then graduates from brown to light brown. The ants six limbs are light brown in colour.[1] The Michelin ant has two short, 12 segmented antennae, and eight mandibular teeth; 1 sharp apical tooth, 2 small teeth, 3 large bifid teeth, and 2 conical teeth.[2] The ant species has small, compound eyes that are located midway behind the sides of the of the head.[3] F. Saundersi is smaller and slimmer than it's close and similar looking relative Amblyopone australis and has smaller palpi.
Range
Natural global range
Fulakora saundersi is endemic to New Zealand, as supported by its widespread distribution throughout the country. This also implies a long period of establishment within the country.[2] The species is distinct from its Amblyopone relatives which consists of 62 described species with 17 of such residing in Australia.[1]
New Zealand range
The Michelin ant is found in the three main islands of New Zealand – Stewart Island, South Island, and North Island – as well as the Chatham Islands, Three Kings Island, and other offshore islands.[1]
Habitat
The species is found throughout in the country of New Zealand residing in forests, coastal scrubland, and gardens,[1] nesting underneath leaf litter [2] and in rotting logs and branches[4] (also known as hypogaeic). The ants rarely forage above ground in day light.[1] The genus of Amblyopone shares this common choice of habitat, such as the Amblyopone australis Erichson 1842,[1] a relative of Fulakora saundersi introduced from Australia.[2]
Ecology
Life cycle/Phenology
The New Zealand Michelin ant, like most other ant species, has one breeding event per year. Winged males and females will emerge from their nests at the same time and mate in mid-air. Once mated, the males will decease where then the females will land at their carcass and feed on their wings.[4] After mating, females will fly to find a suitable location for a new colony to become queen of once they give birth. This habit is known as colony budding.The specific life cycle of this species is unresearched, however, it is believed to be the same as other ant species; a life cycle that lasts around 6 to 10 weeks[5] where the queen ant produces eggs; where fertilised eggs produce females, and unfertilised eggs produce males.[5] Colonies of this species are small in size with colonies of only 10 – 30 workers. The nests are designed as a simple shallow hollow in the soil, as to be temporary in structure. This relates to the short generational cycle of the nest, which only lasts a few generations of workers.[1]
Diet and foraging
Fulakora saundersi are carnivores and so their diet typically consists of other insects.[4] Worker Michelin Ants have been observed feeding larvae with pieces of insects; A primitive tactic of feeding compared to the more advanced trophallaxis.[2] The larva of this species is known to cannibalize each other if food is scarce. However, the queen of the nest will forage for food for their first generation of larvae produced and may also continue this behaviour alongside the worker ants for future reproductions. The larvae and queen may feed on trophic eggs as a common food source.[1] Though not commonly observed to be used against humans, the species (workers and females) have the ability to sting in order to immobilize prey by capturing them within their mandibles and injecting a potent toxin with their stinger.[6]
Predators, Parasites, and Diseases
Many animals pose threat to the New Zealand Michelin ant, such as birds, beetles, and snails. Invasive ant species can also be a threat to the New Zealand Michelin Ant, such as the introduced Argentine ant which was first detected in New Zealand in 1990.[7]
Closely Related Species
The species of Fulakora saundersi is endemic to New Zealand, however, has relations overseas through the subspecies of Amblyoponinae, which contains 62 species; 17 of which are located in Australia.[1] However, the species has distinct characteristics such as the smaller size compared to Amblyopone australis. This can suggest that Fulakora saundersi has been separated from its ancestors (and therefore relatives) for quite some time. As well as this, the ant has many ‘primitive features’, such as its small size and lack of trophallaxis, which could imply that this species is of Gondwanan origin, meaning its ancestors were on Gondwana together until its splitting, forcing the population apart and to adapt in its own way.[2]
Sampling
Fulakora saundersi is commonly observed and sampled through pitfall traps and litter extractions from scrub and forests.[2]
References
- Don, Warwick; Harris, Richard. "Fulakora saundersi". Manaaki Whenua. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- Don, Warwick (2007). Ants of New Zealand. Otago University Press. pp. 50–54. ISBN 978 1 877372 47 6.
- Brown, W.L (1958). "A Review of the Ants of New Zealand (Hymenoptera)". Acta Hyenopterologica. 1 (1): 1–50.
- Lindsey, Terence; Morris, Rod (2013). Collins Pocket Guide to New Zealand Minibeasts. New Zealand: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9781775490388.
- Early, John. "Ants". The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 21 Apr 2023.
- Brown, W.L. (1960). "Contributions toward a reclassification of the formicidae". Bulletin of the Museum of comparative Zoology. 122: 173–362.
- "Argentine Ants" (PDF). Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Retrieved 21 Apr 2023.
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