Chelaner antarcticus
Chelaner antarcticus is an ant of the family Formicidae, endemic to New Zealand. Also known as the southern ant, this is likely New Zealand's most common native ant species. Because it is highly variable in size, colour, and colony structure, it is possible that it consists of a complex of closely related species. It has a generalist diet that includes small arthropods, nectar, and seeds, and it also tends to aphids, scale insects, and mealybugs to obtain honeydew.
Taxonomy
This species was described by Frederick Smith in 1858 as Atta antarctica, and was placed in the large and extremely diverse genus Monomorium in 1886.By the early 20th century Monomorium contained 10 subgenera, one of which was Monomorium Emery, 1914. Chelaner was raised to generic level in 1966 to contain 37 Australian species along with 10 from New Caledonia, New Guinea, and New Zealand.
Bolton in 1987 examined the mophological features of Chelaner, and found them to be too variable to distinguish the genus, which was synonymised with Monomorium again. In 2019 after a comprehensive study of multiple genes the genus Chelaner was resurrected, to house a total of 53 Australasian and Pacific species, including this one, which would then be known as Chelaner antarcticus.
It is commonly referred to as the "southern ant".
Description
Worker specimens are variable in size, usually in length, with head width varying from. The antennae have 12 segments, with a three segmented club. A metanotal groove present, either distinctly or weakly impressed. Spines on the propodeum are either blunt or absent. The colour highly variable across colonies, ranging from orange, light to dark brown, and black.Distribution and habitat
Chelaner antarcticus is endemic to New Zealand where it is widespread in the North and South Island as well as Stewart Island. It is also present on smaller offshore islands such as the Three Kings Islands, the Chatham Islands, the Kermadec Islands and even the far away Austral Islands in Polynesia.C. antarcticus are found throughout many habitats including native forest, grasslands, wetlands, pastureland, household gardens as well as horticultural and industrial habitats.
There is some evidence to suggest that the range of C.antarcticus in urban habitats may be restricted due to competition with exotic ant species, at least in northern parts of New Zealand.