Alex Wild Photography - Insect Images

Simopelta

is genus of poorly known ponerine ants that inhabit Neotropical cloud forests. The dozen or so species are specialized predators of other ants, showing a remarkable convergence in behavior and morphology to the better-known ecitonine army ants.

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alexwild > Simopelta sp. nr. pergandei. One of the most remarkable examples of evolutionary convergence in ants involves the ponerine genus Simopelta and the true army ants (subfamilies Ecitoninae, Aenictinae, and Dorylinae). Both groups are specialized predators of other ants, and their queens have a similar morphology.

Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Venezuela

alexwild > Simopelta sp. nr. pergandei worker and larvae in a laboratory colony.

Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Venezuela

alexwild > Simopelta sp. nr. pergandei, nest emigration across leaf litter.

Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Venezuela

alexwild > Simopelta sp. nr. pergandei, queen with brood. Although unrelated to the more "classic" army ants, the queens of both groups are wingless.

Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Venezuela

alexwild > Simopelta sp. nr. pergandei, queen with brood. Although unrelated to the more "classic" army ants, the queens of both groups are wingless and similar in form.

Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Venezuela

Simopelta sp. nr. pergandei

Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Venezuela

Camera: Canon (Canon Eos 20d) |

More details: exif |

Original size: 2730px x 1780px |

Current: 400px x 261px |

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Keywords: ants insect insects hymenoptera army ants army ant formicidae mandibles ponerinae ant portrait simopelta nomadic ants

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