Jack Jumper, Myrmecia pilosula
Late April 2011
Mount Wellington
Collecting stones for their nest. Many Jack Jumper nests are obvious by their position under cleared ground and their habit of adorning this area with collected small stones, seed pods, and short twigs. Not all their nests are so easily seen – see the video below for a more hidden nest.
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Late December 2009
Mount Wellington
This video shows a well hidden Jack Jumper nest. A nearby embeded rock was hit repeatedly to agitate them. Although the ants appear to be unusually quick in their movements, this footage is in real time.
Jack Jumper nest defence
Jack Jumper, Myrmecia cf. pilosula (male)
Late March 2011
Mount Wellington
Jack Jumper, Myrmecia cf. pilosula (male)
Mid January 2015
Sisters Beach
Late May 2017
Knocklofty Reserve, Hobart
Late December 2015
Sisters Beach
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Mid April 2014
Mathinna Falls Track
Late September 2014
Binalong Bay
Catching a honeybee by the tongue
Early January 2014
Rocky Cape National Park
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Workers dragging a captured honeybee to their nest entrance
Late September 2018
Bicheno
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Wolf Spider hunting a Jack Jumper Ant
Mid March 2011
Port Sorell
Late September 2014
Binalong Bay
Ants fighting. Presumably from different nests. Note the size differences.
Late September 2014
Binalong Bay
Ant colonies fighting over dead bees,
Mid January 2015
Rocky Cape National Park, Sisters Beach
Late July 2019
Knocklofty Reserve, Hobart/nipaluna
Mid February 2021
Knocklofty Reserve, Hobart/nipaluna
Pale Brown Jack Jumper ants (Myrmecia cf. pilosula) infected by a gregarine protozoan parasite.
Jack Jumper Stings – Gross warning
Jack Jumper ants hold with their jaws and sting with their abdomen. They can sting through clothing. 3% of the population are severely allergic to Jack Jumper stings. Fortunately (KE) only has a minor irritation.