keyword pages:  1  2  >  
< 1 of 16 >
Adetomyrma sp. "mad-01", an undescribed species of dracula ant. The world has so many species of insects, and so few taxonomists, that finding new ones is almost trivial, especially in tropical regions. Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
The long necks of Adetomyrma larvae provide great flexibility for reaching the tasty innards of prey insects that the adults bring back to the nest. Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
An Adetomyrma goblin worker carries a larva. Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
A pair of Adetomyrma goblin dracula ants groom a larva. Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
The brood nest of Adetomyrma dracula ants showing larvae of varying age. Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
The brood nest of Adetomyrma goblin dracula ants. Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
A feeding frenzy in an Adetomyrma goblin colony. A paradox of ant biology is that adult ants cannot consume solid food, while the larvae can. Larvae are essential for colony nutrition, more than just future adults, digesting proteinaceous food and passing it on in liquid form to the adults. Most ant species have evolved a simple mechanism for the transfer of liquid food by regurgitation (trophallaxis), but a few truly ancient lineages of ants, including the Adetomyrma pictured here, predate trophallaxis. Instead, the adults chew holes in the larval skins and drink the hemolymph directly. Larvae are apparently unharmed by the procedure, although the practice has earned these insects the common name "dracula ants". Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
A feeding frenzy in an Adetomyrma goblin colony. A paradox of ant biology is that adult ants cannot consume solid food, while the larvae can. Larvae are essential for colony nutrition, more than just future adults, digesting proteinaceous food and passing it on in liquid form to the adults. Most ant species have evolved a simple mechanism for the transfer of liquid food by regurgitation (trophallaxis), but a few truly ancient lineages of ants, including the Adetomyrma pictured here, predate trophallaxis. Instead, the adults chew holes in the larval skins and drink the hemolymph directly. Larvae are apparently unharmed by the procedure, although the practice has earned these insects the common name "dracula ants". Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
An Adetomyrma goblin worker carries a larva. Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
Adetomyrma sp. "mad-01", an undescribed species of dracula ant. The world has so many species of insects, and so few taxonomists, that finding new ones is almost trivial, especially in tropical regions.

Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
Adetomyrma sp. "mad-01", an undescribed species of dracula ant. The world has so many species of insects, and so few taxonomists, that finding new ones is almost trivial, especially in tropical regions. Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
Adetomyrma sp. "mad-01", an undescribed species of dracula ant. The world has so many species of insects, and so few taxonomists, that finding new ones is almost trivial, especially in tropical regions.

Madagascar; captive lab colony photographed at the California Academy of Sciences
See photo in original gallery.
keyword pages:  1  2  >  
< 1 of 16 >
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013