#2380 - Chelaner antarcticus - Southern Ant
This species was described by Frederick Smith in 1858 as Atta antarctica, and moved to the large Monomorium genus in 1886. By 1914 it was in the Monomorium subgenus Chelaner, which got promoted to genus in 1966, demoted in 1987, and promoted again in 2019.
Possibly New Zealand's most common native ant species, present in areas of very high to very low rainfall, and on nearly all New Zealand islands. Colonies can be found under half-buried stones or logs in open pastures, grasslands, swamps at high altitudes, forests, and gardens. Because it is highly variable in size (3–5mm), colour, and colony structure, it's possible it's a complex of closely related species.
A generalist diet.
Pohokura, North Island, New Zealand
