Natural History:
These are extremely common ants in southern forests of New Guinea, where
they are found on almost any dry surface from tree roots to the canopy.
Their columns may extend for dozens of meters, but is always thin--rarely
more than two insects wide.
Though tinier and less formidable in appearance
than most of the other forest ants, this species is capable of delivering
a painful bite. The will first raise the thorax and open the mandibles,
then thrust dramatically in order to drive the mouthparts far into the
victim's flesh. Though they are rarely large enough to draw blood, the
bite feels like a sting, and there is no way (or, usually, desire) to
remove an ant without killing it.
