Hypoponera opacior ergatoid male. Most ant males are wasp-like and winged, adapted for dispersing away from their home nest to mate with queens from other colonies. But some Hypoponera males like the one shown here are inbreeding specialists. These pale creatures are worker-like in appearance and mate with their sisters in the nest.
Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Hypoponera opacior ergatoid male. Most ant males are wasp-like and winged, adapted for dispersing away from their home nest to mate with queens from other colonies. But some Hypoponera males like the one shown here are inbreeding specialists. These pale creatures are worker-like in appearance and mate with their sisters in the nest.
Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Canon EOS 50D |
Original size: 2604x1786 |
Current: 800x549 |
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013