Overview
The nests of Leptogenys are found in loose debris on the surface of the ground, in soil or under objects on the ground and in rotten wood. Nests on the ground surface are often used for only a short time before the colony moves to a new site while nests in soil are occupied for longer periods. Colonies contain from a few dozen to hundreds of thousands of individuals. When nests are disturbed workers disperse very rapidly in all directions, disappearing into the surrounding vegetation and leaf litter. Workers are predacious and have a powerful sting. Foraging occurs throughout the day and night, with workers foraging either singly or in well formed and distinct foraging trails. Some have well developed cooperative foraging strategies, where numerous workers work together to capture and transport large prey. A few species specialise on pillbugs (isopods) while others show a preference for termites. Some species have army-ant like foraging behaviour. Most or all species have worker-like (ergatoid) queens.
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This taxon is known from these habitats
The following rows were recorded as a pair from a single record.
Blank entries indicate no information was recorded. |
| Environment/Macrohabitat | Situation/Microhabitat |
| | ex nest in ground |
| | Flight intercept trap |
| | in/under dead log |
| | Pitfall |
| | Pitfall trap |
| | Pyrethrum knockdown |
| | Under stone |
| ? edge of rainforest | |
| Acacia woodland | |
| Burnt open forest | |
| Clearing surrounded by rainforest | foraging on recently felled trees |
| Coffee & potato plantations | |
| Complex mesophyll vine forest | |
| Disturbed Rainforest | ex Passaud stage log |
| Dry evergreen forest | |
| Dry rainforest | |
| Dry sclerophyll | |
| Eucalypt, open woodland | |
| Eucalyptus open forest | stray foragers |
| Eucalyptus open-forest | at light |
| Eucalyptus woodland | ex rotten log |
| Eucalyptus woodland | Ground nest |
| Eucalytpus woodland | at light |
| Forest frag. | nest ex leaves & debirs base of tree |
| forest frag. | nest ex leaves & debris base of tree |
| Littoral rainforest | |
| Lowland rainforest | |
| Lowland rainforest | in dry creek bed |
| Lowland rainforest | mass foraging on ground |
| Lowland rainforest | moving nest sites, about 1m distant, apparently into soil in ground |
| Lowland rainforest | under log |
| Lowland rainforest | under wet rotting log |
| mallee woodland | |
| Mulga | |
| Open forest | |
| open mallee with Spinifex | |
| open mulga, grassland | |
| Open woodland | |
| Poor rainforest | under stone |
| rainforest | |
| Rainforest | Assoc. with Nausitermes nest |
| Rainforest | at base of tree stump |
| Rainforest | ex fallen epiphytic fern |
| Rainforest | ex large Passaud stage log |
| Rainforest | ex Passaud stage rtn. log |
| Rainforest | ex rotten log |
| Rainforest | ex rotting log |
| Rainforest | ex rotting wood piece |
| Rainforest | ex rtn. log rainforest edge |
| Rainforest | ex trunks and low foliage |
| Rainforest | foraging on ground, on mound |
| Rainforest | from soil of nest mound of Formicine |
| Rainforest | ground forager |
| Rainforest | ground foragers |
| rainforest | ground strays |
| Rainforest | in rotten log |
| Rainforest | in soil under rotting wood |
| Rainforest | in soil under small log, very fast |
| Rainforest | in soil under wood |
| Rainforest | in soil Zoraptera stage ex rtn. log |
| Rainforest | nest ex hollow centre Passaud stage rtn. log |
| Rainforest | nest ex Zoraptera fragment |
| Rainforest | nest in leaf litter |
| rainforest | nest in rotting log |
| Rainforest | nest under debris in stump |
| Rainforest | nest under stone |
| Rainforest | nocturnal ground foragers |
| Rainforest | Pitfall trap |
| Rainforest | random foragers, low vegitation |
| Rainforest | random ground foragers |
| Rainforest | rotting wood |
| Rainforest | Sieved litter |
| Rainforest | under bark Cucujid stage log |
| Rainforest | under bark Zoraptera stage ex rtn. log |
| Rainforest | under log |
| Rainforest | under rotten log |
| Rainforest | under rotting wood on ground |
| Rainforest | under stone |
| Rainforest | Zoraptera rtn. log |
| Rainforest - wet sclerophyll | |
| Rainforest edge | ground nest |
| Rainforest edge | nest under rock |
| Rainforest gully | Ex rotten log |
| Rainforest on sandy soil | ground foragers |
| Rainforest valley | nest under rock |
| Roadside | under boulder |
| roadside edge | |
| Sclerophyll woods | Under stone |
| Spinifex steppe with scattered gums | |
| Submontane forest on ridge, mid ridge, S side | |
| Subtropical rainforest | |
| Subtropical Rainforest | under stone |
| subtropical rainforest by stream | |
| Wet sclerophylla at edge of Melaleuca swamp | ground foragers |