Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Ants of New Zealand

Argentine ants on chicken. Image - Richard Toft, Entecol

New Zealand, like other oceanic islands, has a depauperate (species-poor) ant fauna.

There are currently 40 confirmed species from 23 genera in New Zealand. Of these, only 11 are endemic (found only in New Zealand), which are generally widespread geographically and commonly found in forested habitats. The other 29 are introduced species, accidentally transported to New Zealand by humans, mostly from Australia.

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