Cephalotes
is a diverse genus of heavily-armored, tree-dwelling myrmicine ants found in forested regions of the new world tropics and subptropics. A number of rainforest canopy species show the unusual habit of controlled gliding flight when they are knocked from tree branches. Most species are polymorphic, having a "soldier" caste with an enlarged head used for blocking the nest entrances.
A Cephalotes atratus gliding ant in mid-air. Rainforest canopy ants risk losing contact with their colonies if they fall from their home trees to the dark, alien forest floor some 30-40 meters below. Canopy-dwellers can guard against getting lost by gliding back to the tree trunks before the fall too far.
Gamboa, Panama
A Cephalotes atratus gliding ant in mid-air. Rainforest canopy ants risk losing contact with their colonies if they fall from their home trees to the dark, alien forest floor some 30-40 meters below. Canopy-dwellers can guard against getting lost by gliding back to the tree trunks before the fall too far.
Gamboa, Panama
Canon EOS 20D |
Original size: 2616x1773 |
Current: 800x542 |
