Pheidole
is the world's most species-rich ant genus. These myrmicine ants have a cosmopolitan distribution but are particularly diverse in the tropics, filling a number of niches from seed-harvesting to ant-plant symbionts. The genus is marked by a pronounced worker caste polymorphism; major workers are considerably larger than minors and have disproportionately large heads.
Army ants (red) raid a nest of Pheidole dentata (black) in south Texas. Notice the Pheidole worker in the background absconding with a pupa. One of the premier defenses of Pheidole against their army ant predators is rapid nest evacuation, carrying as many larvae and pupae as they can manage.
Smithville, Texas, USA
Army ants (red) raid a nest of Pheidole dentata (black) in south Texas. Notice the Pheidole worker in the background absconding with a pupa. One of the premier defenses of Pheidole against their army ant predators is rapid nest evacuation, carrying as many larvae and pupae as they can manage.
Smithville, Texas, USA
Camera: Canon (Canon Eos 20d) |
Original size: 2540px x 1972px |
Current: 387px x 300px |
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2010
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