Blue ant
{{Short description|Species of insect endemic to Australia}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Female blue ant04.jpg
| image_caption = Female
| display_parents = 2
| taxon = Diamma bicolor
| authority = Westwood, 1835
}}
The blue ant (Diamma bicolor), also known as the blue-ant or bluebottle, is a species of flower wasp in the family Thynnidae. It is the sole member of the genus Diamma and of the subfamily Diamminae. Despite its common name and wingless body, it is not an ant but rather a species of large, solitary, parasitic wasp.
Distribution
The blue ant is endemic to south and southeast Australia, including the states of Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
Description and identification
Blue ants have a distinctive metallic blue-green body, with red legs. The female ranges up to {{convert|25|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} in length, and is wingless. The male is smaller, about {{convert|15|mm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}}, and has wings.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
Biology
Blue ants are ground-nesting. They are unusual among members of the family Thynnidae in exclusively hunting mole crickets as larval provisions, whereas all other species of thynnids attack beetle larvae. The cricket is paralysed with venom injected by the female's stinger and an egg is laid upon it so the wasp larva has a ready supply of food.
Adults feed on nectar and pollinate various native Australian flowers, such as Lomatia silaifolia.{{cite journal| last=Hawkeswood | first=Trevor J |journal = Calodema| title= Record of pollination of Lomatia silaifolia (Sm.) R.Br. (Proteaceae) by the flower wasp Diamma bicolor (Westwood, 1835)(Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) | volume=355 | date=2015-01-01 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305722154_Record_of_pollination_of_Lomatia_silaifolia_Sm_RBr_Proteaceae_by_the_flower_wasp_Diamma_bicolor_Westwood_1835Hymenoptera_Tiphiidae | access-date=2024-06-02 | page=1–3}}
They are fast-moving and burrow under leaves to escape danger. They do not show aggression unless provoked.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
Gallery
Female blue ant03.jpg|Blue ant female
Female blue ant05.jpg|Blue ant female with damaged antennae
Diamma bicolor male (75667677).jpg|Blue ant male
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Cite book |last=Farrow |first=Roger |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jysODAAAQBAJ |title=Insects of South-Eastern Australia: An Ecological and Behavioural Guide |date=May 2016 |publisher=Csiro Publishing |isbn=978-1-4863-0475-2 |pages=30 |language=en}}
{{Cite book |last=Gleeson |first=Michelle |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mLupCwAAQBAJ |title=Miniature Lives: Identifying Insects in Your Home and Garden |date=2016 |publisher=Csiro Publishing |isbn=978-1-4863-0138-6 |pages=130 |language=en}}
{{cite journal|last1=Pilgrim |first1=E. |last2=von Dohlen |first2=C. |last3=Pitts |first3=J. |year=2008 |title= Molecular phylogenetics of Vespoidea indicate paraphyly of the superfamily and novel relationships of its component families and subfamilies |journal= Zoologica Scripta |volume= 37 |issue= 5 |pages=539–560 |doi=10.1111/j.1463-6409.2008.00340.x|s2cid=85905070 }}
}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [http://australianmuseum.net.au/Blue-Ant/ Blue-ant Fact File] (from the Australian Museum)
- [http://australianmuseum.net.au/Flower-wasps/ Flower wasps] (from the Australian Museum)
- [http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_481.htm Common names (and image)] (from CSIRO Entomology)
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2616438}}