Huberia striata
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| Huberia striata (Fr. Smith, 1876) |
Huberia striata is an ant of the family Formicidae, endemic to New Zealand. It is found both in native forests under stones or in rotting logs, and in more open bush country including entirely in the open, though still close to the forest edge. It is most common in beech forests of the South Island including at higher altitudes.
Length of the worker ant is about 4.5 to 5.0 mm. The antenna has 11 segments, the last being a four segmented club. Coloration is reddish-yellow to black.
Colonies can be up to hundreds or thousands of workers, due mainly to a tendency for colony branching and the formation of groups of supplementary nests or "super-colonies". Disturbance of a nest evokes an immediate aggressive response and the rapid removal of brood to lower levels. People stung report pustules forming at the site of the sting.
Root-feeding aphids, scale insects (coccids) and mealy bugs (pseudococcids) have been observed inhabiting the nests of Huberia striata and being tended by the ants for their sweet excreta.
