Ochetellus

Shattuck, 1992

Species Guides

Ochetellus glaber(black household ant)

Ochetellus is a of small black ants in the Dolichoderinae, established by Steve Shattuck in 1992 to accommodate previously placed in Iridomyrmex. The genus contains seven described species and three , predominantly native to Australia with some Asian distributions. Several species have been introduced outside their native range, including O. glaber which has established in New Zealand, Hawaii, and the continental United States. These ants occupy diverse from sclerophyll woodlands to urban environments.

Ochetellus by (c) Grey Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Grey Smith. Used under a CC-BY license.

Ochetellus by (c) Nigel Main, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nigel Main. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ochetellus: /ɒkɛˈtɛləs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from the related Iridomyrmex by the position of on the and the arrangement of the clypeal margin and mesosoma. Differs from Dolichoderus by smaller size, narrower petiole that is dorsolaterally expanded, and thinner head. The genus was erected in 1992 based on these morphological distinctions from formerly classified in Iridomyrmex.

Images

Habitat

Eurychoric distribution spanning dry and mesic including sclerophyll woodland, eucalypt woodland, Casuarina forests, mallee, hillsides, and beaches. Nests occur in bark, logs, rotten wood, sand, soil, under rocks and stones, tree stumps, and twigs or branches. In urban areas, colonies occupy cracked paths, house walls, and patio areas. Arboreal habits with foraging on trees and low vegetation.

Distribution

Native to Australia across diverse climates from temperate (Sydney) to tropical regions. Native Asian range includes India, Japan, the Philippines, and southern Burma. Island distributions include Fiji, Mauritius, and New Caledonia. Introduced to New Zealand, Hawaii (first recorded 1977, now established on Hawaii, Kahoolawe, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu), and north-central Florida (Orange County).

Diet

. prey includes Ornithoptera richmondia , fruit fly pupae, Plutella larvae, and nests. Plant-based foods include Pandanus fruits, seeds, nectar from Pisonia, Canavalia, Commicarpus, Ipomoea, Melanthera, Plumbago, and Scaevola flowers, extrafloral , honeydew, and sucrose. Also consumes Pacific reef heron , carrion, fats, and grease. O. glaber exploits extrafloral nectaries without providing protective services to plants.

Host Associations

Prorsococcus acanthodus - attendantO. flavipes regularly attends this mealybug and constructs protective shelters
Anthene lycaenoides - attendantAttends larvae (Pale Ciliate Blue )
Ogyris amaryllis - attendantAttends larvae (Satin Azure )
Ogyris olane - attendantAttends larvae (Olane Azure )
Ogyris oroetes - attendantAttends larvae (Silky Azure )

Life Cycle

Colony includes . O. glaber queens mate with a single male (polygynous). Other show with queens mating with multiple males while males mate with only one . Colony proliferation occurs through (satelliting/fractionating), where queens, , and leave to establish new nest sites.

Behavior

form foraging columns. Both and activity, but not continuous through 24-hour periods. Low activity during clear sunny days; extremely active shortly after rain. Forage into buildings, eucalyptus trees, ground areas, and low vegetation. O. flavipes constructs unique small runways across the ground, a nesting habit unique among Australian ants and structurally similar to some Polyrhachis nests.

Ecological Role

of , larvae, and pupae. and nectar consumer at multiple flower . Attendant to larvae and , with protective shelter construction for attended species. Prey for the thorny devil lizard (Moloch horridus), which consumes 24–45 per minute and up to 2,500 individuals daily, and other species.

Human Relevance

Considered pests when foraging into houses, showing preference for fluids and sweets. O. glaber in Hawaii and Florida. Some forage into pastures. Subject of taxonomic confusion with misidentifications complicating management decisions; researchers recommend against control measures based on assumptions of status without proper identification.

Similar Taxa

IridomyrmexFormerly classified together; distinguished by position, clypeal margin, and mesosoma arrangement
DolichoderusSimilar appearance but larger with broader petiole and thicker
PolyrhachisO. flavipes runway nests structurally similar to some Polyrhachis platform nests

Misconceptions

Ochetellus glaber has been widely cited as a single introduced , but morphometric evidence indicates it represents a . Many historical identifications of O. glaber and the related Iridomyrmex anceps are unreliable, and the assumption that these ants are in many regions may be incorrect.

More Details

Taxonomic history

Established by Shattuck in 1992 with O. glaber (originally Hypoclinea glabra, Mayr 1862) as type . Originally placed in tribe Dolichoderini, later transferred to Iridomyrmecini, now synonymized with Leptomyrmecini. Seven species and three transferred from Iridomyrmex: O. democles, O. epinotalis, O. flavipes, O. glaber, O. punctatissimus, O. sororis, O. vinsoni; subspecies O. glaber clarithorax, O. glaber consimilis, O. glaber sommeri.

Cultural reference

A UC Davis Entomology Graduate Student Association t-shirt design by Jill Oberski, 'My Sister Loves Me,' depicts an loosely based on Ochetellus.