Pachycondyla castanea

Taxobox
name = "Pachycondyla castanea"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Hymenoptera
familia = Formicidae
subfamilia = Ponerinae
genus = "Pachycondyla"
species = "P. castanea"
binomial = "Pachycondyla castanea"
binomial_authority = (Mayr, 1865)
range_

range_map_width = 250px
synonyms =

"Pachycondyla castanea" is an ant species of the family Formicidae, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. It is found in shady native forests, in soil under stones or in rotting logs.

The mandibles are triangular with numerous small teeth (about 10) along the inner margins, and touch the front of the clypeus when closed. Length of the worker ant is 4.9 to 6.1 mm. The antennae have each 12 segments. Coloration of the head and body is reddish to dark brown, that of the antennae and legs yellowish-brown.

The queens are wingless and worker-like, unlike the other endemic Ponerinae species "Pachycondyla castaneicolor" which has winged queens. "Pachycondyla castanea" is highly predatory, using an effective sting to immobilise prey. They are commonly encountered in gardens, where they have been reported stinging people when the nests are disturbed.

References

* [http://www.antweb.org/newzealand/2005WardWeta.pdf Antweb]
* [http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biocons/invertebrates/ants/infosheets/paccastanea_info.asp LandCare]