An Amblyopone australis worker reacts to disturbance by playing dead. A few seconds after this photo was taken, she perked up and walked away.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
Stigmatomma ferruginea (left) & Rhytidoponera victoriae, fighting.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
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
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
Amblyopone australis, cocoons and adults in the brood nest. Many species in the ancient ant subfamily Amblyoponinae have the characteristically yellow cocoons.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Stigmatomma ferruginea (left) & Rhytidoponera victoriae, fighting.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
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
Amblyopone australis, cocoons and adults in the brood nest. Many species in the ancient ant subfamily Amblyoponinae have the characteristically yellow cocoons.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Amblyopone australis dracula ants are subterranean predators.  Here they are seen attacking a moth larva.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
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
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
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
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013