A newly established colony of Green Tree Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) has been set-up within the Bugs Alive! exhibition. The ants were collected during our recent trip to north Queensland, and then air-freighted back to Melbourne.

Collecting a colony of these ants doesn't always go perfectly to plan. Although we have done it many times before, we still somehow managed to shower ourselves with hundreds of angry green insects. Amidst much slapping, cursing and dancing we got the leafy nest into a large bucket and frantically secured the lid before the thousand or so hostile workers erupted over the top. Their nests are constructed of leaves which are bound together with specialised silk produced by the larvae. The worker ants hold the larvae in their mandibles and use them as little silk-producing tools. Any disturbance to the nest is met by an eruption of defenders armed with powerful mandibles and the ability to spray acid.

Once back at Melbourne Museum, the leafy nest was transferred into the display enclosure, complete with suitable plants for them to construct new nests within. They have already set-up a number of nests and are doing very well in their new home.

Greta and Tash transfer the ants (and nest) into the exhibit. Photo: Alan Henderson Source: Museum Victoria

Tash watches the first ant explorers as they check out their new home - right in front of the magnifying viewer! Photo: Alan Henderson Source: Museum Victoria

Worker Green Tree Ants escorting their queen. Photo: Alan Henderson Source: Museum Victoria