Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ant pupae. As pupae age, the cuticle hardens and darkens in a process called tanning. Cairns, Queensland, Australia - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography - Insect Pictures

Oecophylla

is a genus of large arboreal ants of the African, Asian, and Australian tropics. These conspicuous insects are weaver ants, creating nests by pulling living tree leaves together and securing them with silk produced by the ants' larvae. Colonies are territorial, covering several trees and containing dozens of nests.

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Oecophylla smaragdina

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Oecophylla smaragdina minor workers tend to larvae in the brood nest. These small workers are present in great numbers in weaver ant colonies but are rarely seen outside the nest.

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Inside the leaf nest of Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ants. Note the two size classes of worker.

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ants have killed a trap-jaw ant and are cooperating to carry it up a tree branch to their nest.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

Metamorphosis in the green tree ant Oecophylla smaragdina.

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Breaking open a leaf nest of Oecophylla weaver ants reveals silk hammocks that make up the nest's internal structure. Note how aggressively guard ants react to the intrusion.

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Eggs and young larvae inside the brood nest of Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ants.

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Death by spider: an Oecophylla smaragdina green tree ant captured by a web-building spider.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ant pupae. As pupae age, the cuticle hardens and darkens in a process called tanning.

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ant pupae. As pupae age, the cuticle hardens and darkens in a process called tanning.

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ant pupae. As pupae age, the cuticle hardens and darkens in a process called tanning.

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Canon EOS 7D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 4818x3030 |

Current: 800x503 |

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Keywords: tanning pupa metamorphosis pupae formicidae oecophylla holometabolous

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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013

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