Adult Stigmatomma cannot eat solid food and are incapable of the trophallaxis behavior that allows most other ant species to share food among nestmates. Instead, they have developed a novel way to feed themselves: consuming the hemolymph of nestmate larvae. Ants puncture vulnerable spots in the larval skin- as the ant in the center demonstrates- and lap up the drops of hemolymph. (Stigmatomma oregonensis) Quincy, California, USA - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography

Metamorphosis

Images from the life cycle of developing ants.

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Stigmatomma pallipes dracula ant worker with larvae. This species is the most common and widespread of the North American Stigmatomma.

South Bristol, New York, USA

Stigmatomma pallipes dracula ant workers with cocoons. This species is the most common and widespread of the North American Stigmatomma.

South Bristol, New York, USA

Stigmatomma pallipes worker with eggs and pupae.

South Bristol, New York, USA

Inside the brood nest of the specialist centipede predator Stigmatomma oregonensis. Note the larvae feeding on a centipede carcass at left.

Quincy, California, USA

Tapinoma sessile, the odorous house ant, with larvae.

Champaign, Illinois, USA

Adult Stigmatomma cannot eat solid food and are incapable of the trophallaxis behavior that allows most other ant species to share food among nestmates. Instead, they have developed a novel way to feed themselves: consuming the hemolymph of nestmate larvae. Ants puncture vulnerable spots in the larval skin- as the ant in the center demonstrates- and lap up the drops of hemolymph. (Stigmatomma oregonensis)

Quincy, California, USA

Temnothorax rugatulus. Ants in this laboratory nest are individually marked with dabs of paint to help researchers at the University of Arizona track their activities. As Temnothorax are hardy ants that adapt well to the laboratory, they are frequently used for studies of ant behavior.

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Little Ochetellus ants are a common but often overlooked element of the Australian ant fauna. These workers tend to their larvae in the nest.

Nhill, Victoria, Australia

Technomyrmex difficilis. Ants, like butterflies, have complete metamorphosis. They pass through egg, larva, and pupa phases on the way to maturity, all visible in this nest of white-footed ants.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa

Adult Stigmatomma cannot eat solid food and are incapable of the trophallaxis behavior that allows most other ant species to share food among nestmates. Instead, they have developed a novel way to feed themselves: consuming the hemolymph of nestmate larvae. Ants puncture vulnerable spots in the larval skin- as the ant in the center demonstrates- and lap up the drops of hemolymph. (Stigmatomma oregonensis)

Quincy, California, USA

Canon EOS D60 |

More details: exif |

Original size: 2601x1836 |

Current: 800x565 |

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Metamorphosis

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