Ant species uncovered in Murray-Darling study in Queensland's Maranoa

A CSIRO biodiversity study in the Maranoa region of Queensland, near Roma, has found 265 ant species, with up to 100 of them expected to be new.

It was part of a bigger Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) project looking at the biodiversity of the region.

"An ant survey was done on four of the different demonstration properties," QMDC's Rhonda Toms-Morgan said.

"I don't think anyone would have expected [to discover] the place that ants play as a key indicator of bio-health."

As part of the study, rural primary school students had the opportunity to visit the site and inspect the ant traps as part of their science lessons, while members of the public attended field days on properties where the ants were found.

Australia has a diversity of ants

PHOTO: A dish trap containing fluid set up near an ant mound by CSIRO researchers on Myrtleville via Injune. (Supplied: QMDC Donna Hurley)

Ant ecologist Alan Anderson said it was likely there were many more ant species which were yet to be found in remote and rural parts of Australia.

Scientists are aware of around 7,500 native ant species in Australia but it is estimated there are -read more