Iridomyrmex Purpureus - Meat Ant- EXPERT due to colony size
 
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Meat ants are a fantastic, quick growing and impressive species. With striking colours and a green shimmer to the abdomen they are a beauty to watch.
 
Commonly known as the gravel ant they are found in southwest Australia and favour country locations over urban. They have no ability to sting but are incredibly aggressive and will defend their mounts with ferocious force.
 
They are a large species which can reach 10 to 12mm and as such build large nests in the wild by collecting (your guessed it) gravel and dirt to make mounds up to 1.5 meters in diameter. With several entrances, super colonies interconnect hundreds of satellites all to the main nest with a network of tunnels that can stretch up to 650 meters.
 
With such impressive colonies they need lots of food and travel long distances to get it, tending to aphids in trees (and relocating them closer to home). Often, neighbouring colonies of sugar ants will keep watch over night as the meat ants retreat to the nest. During the day the sugar ants retreat and the meat ants take over. They do fight on meeting though so each of the nocturnal and diurnal colonies have “plugging parties” who’s job is to block up their neighbour’s nest entrances in a bid to reduce the time of overlap at dawn and dusk, thus reducing fighting.
 
 They are omnivores. In fact, their name “meat ant” comes from their ability to eat anything (roadkill included). A diet of Insects, Meat and Seeds.
 
When alates happen, it is common practice for groups of workers to leave the main colony and help the de-alates set up nest and provide protection in their new colony and help limit the number of queens who die to predators. 
 
If you are an advanced or experienced keeper who would love a challenge with an ant that’s both larger and quick growing then this is the species for you.
 
Colony Size
Monogyne 
100,000 to 150,000 workers
Temperature
Nest 22 to 26 degrees
Hibernation
No
Polymorphic (Different size casts)
No
Sting/Spray/Acid
No
Diet
Insects, meat (like pinkies), sugars and seeds
Nest Type
Natural, Acrylic, Sand, Earth, Glass.
Size
Queen – 12-15mm
Worker – 8-12mm