Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Formicidae Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Order Hymenoptera Subfamily Dolichoderinae | |
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Similar Iridomyrmex anderseni, Iridomyrmex conifer, Iridomyrmex spadius, Iridomyrmex chasei | ||
Iridomyrmex alpinus is a species of ant of the genus Iridomyrmex. It was described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011.
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Distribution
The ant is found in wet areas in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Specimens were found in alpine areas, alpine heath, grassland and in Sclerophyll, either wet or dry, at elevations of 2,000 metres. These ants can establish nests under large stones, rotting wood, under dead piles of leaves and twigs, and workers have been found foraging in litter and alpine vegetation. A large number of specimens have been collected to the Australian National Insect Collection. A study this species is important for ants living in the eastern seaboard.
Etymology
In Latin, alpinus is translated to alpine, which refers to its habitat the ant lives in.