Myrmecia, often called bulldog ants, bull ants, or jack-jumpers (although jack jumper really only describes M. pilosula, and not all species), is a genus of ants. Bull ants can grow to over 2 cm in length, with the smallest species 6 mm long. Almost all of the circa 90 species are endemic to Australia, with the single exception of Myrmecia apicalis from New Caledonia, where it is rare.
These ants are well-known in Australia for their aggressive behavior and powerful stings. The venom of these ants has a chance to induce anaphylactic shock in allergic sting victims. As with most severe allergic reactions, if left untreated the reaction may be lethal. These large, alert ants have characteristic large eyes and long, slender mandibles. They have superior vision, able to track and even follow intruders from a distance of 1 meter.
Bull ants eat small insects, honeydew (a sweet, sticky liquid found on leaves, deposited from various insects), seeds, fruit, fungi, gums, and nectar. The adult ants mainly eat nectar and honeydew, but the ant larvae are carnivores that eat small insects brought back to them by hunting worker ants. The workers can also regurgitate food back in the nest so other ants can eat it.
