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Formicoxenus diversipilosus male. This species in unusual in the extent to which males resemble the workers. Sagehen Creek, California, USA
Formicoxenus diversipilosus male. This species in unusual in the extent to which males resemble the workers. Sagehen Creek, California, USA
Megalomyrmex adamsae, queen and workers. Panama; captive colony at the University of Texas
Uneasy relationship: a Trachymyrmex fungus-growing ant (left) encounters a Megalomyrmex adamsae that is a parasite of her nest. Panama; captive colony at the University of Texas
Megalomyrmex adamsae & Trachymyrmex. Ant nests present a rich concentration of resources for organisms that can get past the ants' defenses. Nests often contain parasites, and one of the more intriguing cases of parasitism in the new world tropics involves another ant species, the parasite Megalomyrmex adamsae (the smaller ant at center-left). These solenopsidine ants inhabit nests of fungus-growing attine ants and feed on the brood and gardens of their hosts. Panama; captive colony at the University of Texas
Pogonomyrmex anergismus (at left) is a workerless social parasite of other species of Pogonomyrmex harvester ants. The small queens live deep in the nests of their hosts, taking advantage of their resources to produce more parasite queens and males. Once a year, in the fall, a crop of young parasites leave their natal nests to mate and locate a fresh host to colonize. Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA
Megalomyrmex adamsae, queen and workers. Panama; captive colony at the University of Texas
Megalomyrmex adamsae queen and workers. This species is a social parasite that inhabits the nest of Trachymyrmex fungus-growing ants. Panama; captive colony at the University of Texas
Megalomyrmex adamsae Panama; captive colony at the University of Texas
Formicoxenus diversipilosus male. This species in unusual in the extent to which males resemble the workers.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA
Formicoxenus diversipilosus male. This species in unusual in the extent to which males resemble the workers. Sagehen Creek, California, USA
Formicoxenus diversipilosus male. This species in unusual in the extent to which males resemble the workers.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA
See photo in original gallery.
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013