Inside the brood nest of the specialist centipede predator Stigmatomma oregonensis. Note the larvae feeding on a centipede carcass at left. Quincy, California, USA - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography

Stigmatomma

is an ancient group of predaceous ants found worldwide, sometimes called "dracula ants" for the adults' habit of feeding on larval hemolymph. These subterranean ants have elongate mandibles, poor vision, and a characteristic broad posterior attachment of the petiole. Many species are specialist predators of centipedes.

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The worst enemies of ants are often other ants. Here, a Rhytidoponera victoriae scout (at left) has discovered an Stigmatomma ferruginea worker and attempts to wrestle it back to her nest. If successful, she will kill the Stigmatomma and feed her to the larvae. Stigmatomma is too specialized as an underground predator to be good at general fighting, so is at a disadvantage here.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia

Stigmatomma ferruginea (left) & Rhytidoponera victoriae, fighting.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia

Inside the brood nest of the specialist centipede predator Stigmatomma oregonensis. Note the larvae feeding on a centipede carcass at left.

Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis is an old-growth forest specialist that nests in large rotting logs. Here, a worker transports a larva.

Quincy, California, USA

Predatory Stigmatomma oregonensis workers cluster about a centipede they have paralyzed.

Quincy, California, USA

Larval hemolymph feeding in Stigmatomma oregonensis dracula ants.

Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis in a laboratory nest.

Quincy, California, USA

Adult Stigmatomma cannot eat solid food and are incapable of the trophallaxis behavior that allows most other ant species to share food among nestmates. Instead, they have developed a novel way to feed themselves: consuming the hemolymph of nestmate larvae. Ants puncture vulnerable spots in the larval skin- as the ant in the center demonstrates- and lap up the drops of hemolymph. (Stigmatomma oregonensis)

Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis queen in mate-calling posture, in a laboratory nest. She extrudes her sting to release pheromones.

Quincy, California, USA

Inside the brood nest of the specialist centipede predator Stigmatomma oregonensis. Note the larvae feeding on a centipede carcass at left.

Quincy, California, USA

Canon EOS D60 |

More details: exif |

Original size: 2655x1867 |

Current: 800x563 |

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Stigmatomma

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