A Harpegnathos saltator worker cleans her foreleg by pulling it through her mouthparts. Laboratory colony at Arizona State University - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography - Insect Pictures

Harpegnathos

is a south Asian genus of slender, large-eyed ponerine ants. These charismatic insects are capable of jumping several times their body length. Both workers and gynes can mate and lay fertilized eggs, leading to internal power struggles within the nest that are an active subject of research.

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Although most ants hunt by sense of touch and smell, Harpegnathos saltator is a visual predator, spotting prey from a distance and snaring it tiny rows of teeth on the elongate mandibles.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University, USA

Harpegnathos saltator, the Indian Jumping Ant.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University, USA

Harpegnathos saltator, the Indian Jumping Ant, is one of the first ants slated to have its genome sequenced.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University, USA

Harpegnathos jumping ants have evolved elongate mandibles in a rather unusual fashion. Most long-jawed ants (such as this bulldog ant) got their long chops by simply stretching their mandibles out evenly, but Harpegnathos followed a different path. They took a little piece along the front of the mandible near the head and pulled it forward almost as if it were silly putty, leaving the rest more or less intact. The downward-pointing triangle near the base is the remains of the old mandibular tip.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University

Up close with the Indian jumping ant Harpegnathos saltator. Both sets of eyes- the large compound eyes for forming images and the small trio of ocelli for judging light levels- are visible in this photo.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University

A Harpegnathos saltator worker cleans her foreleg by pulling it through her mouthparts.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University

Researchers at Arizona State University use unique combinations of paint to keep track of individuals in their study colonies. This ant appears ready for the holidays. (Harpegnathos saltator)

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University

Harpegnathos saltator, the Indian Jumping Ant.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University, USA

Although most ants hunt by sense of touch and smell, Harpegnathos saltator is a visual predator, spotting prey from a distance and snaring it tiny rows of teeth on the elongate mandibles.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University, USA

A Harpegnathos saltator worker cleans her foreleg by pulling it through her mouthparts.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University

A Harpegnathos saltator worker cleans her foreleg by pulling it through her mouthparts.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University

A Harpegnathos saltator worker cleans her foreleg by pulling it through her mouthparts.

Laboratory colony at Arizona State University

Canon EOS 20D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 3504x2336 |

Current: 800x534 |

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Keywords: eyes ant ants macro insect insects genome hymenoptera formicidae ponerinae worker ant harpegnathos jumping ant social insects poneromorph harpegnathos saltator indian jumping ant giant hunting ant

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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013

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