Whilst the
Goomburra Outing was reported in the last Newsletter, this is a Post Script on
an identification that has until now eluded us. After Lunch that day, we walked
the track to the Castle Lookout, and there, several members saw, and
photographed from every conceivable angle, what appeared to be a very large
ant, of an indeterminate species, strutting its stuff on the timber-work. Many
photos were taken by many members, who consulted many books, and sent each
other many emails in an endeavour to establish just what we had seen. For those
who were not there, or who may have forgotten what this insect looked like,
please see the photo. As our Group Knowledge seemed to have failed us on this
occasion, I sent an email to the Discovery Centre at the Queensland Museum,
seeking guidance. I might mention that I have used their considerable expertise
for several identifications in the past, with excellent results, and this was
no exception. I quote from their reply:
The ant is
in fact a female flower wasp, Family Tiphiidae, Subfamily Thynninae, but
identification beyond the subfamily is not possible from a photograph and would
be extremely difficult even with a specimen. The wasps in this subfamily have
fully winged males and wingless females and the males usually carry the females
along while they mate (phoretic copulation).
So, there we have it. It was not an ant, but a wingless wasp, the precise identification of which is unknown, but as far as I am concerned, that is unimportant in this instance. My thanks to all those who took part in the discussions and correspondence, and to the Entomologists at the Queensland Museum for their detailed description.
(Report and photo by Mike Ford)
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