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This predatory Rhytidoponera worker has captured a caterpillar and is carrying it back to her nest. Mungkan Kandju National Park, Queensland, Australia
Pheidologeton affinis, supermajor and minor workers attacking a beetle grub. Supermajors have powerful mandibles useful for cutting up and carrying large prey items. The supermajor pictured here was able to single-handedly drag this very large beetle larva across the substrate while I photographed them. Rossville, Queensland, Australia
Predator and prey: Myrmecia pyriformis with a european hornet. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Assassin bugs are sit-and-wait predators. This Zelus tetracanthus arrived at a blacklight insect trap and intercepted incoming prey, in this case a male trap-jaw ant. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Assassin bugs are sit-and-wait predators. This Zelus tetracanthus arrived at a blacklight insect trap and intercepted incoming prey, in this case a male trap-jaw ant. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Worker polymorphism in the marauder ant Pheidologeton affinis. Pictured here is a single supermajor worker, two major workers, and full complement of minor workers. These insects are all sisters and are essentially genetically identical, their different morphologies a result of developmental plasticity. Rossville, Queensland, Australia
Pheidologeton affinis supermajor and minor workers. Rossville, Queensland, Australia
Pheidologeton affinis supermajor and minor workers. Rossville, Queensland, Australia
Pheidologeton affinis, supermajor and minor workers attacking a beetle grub. Supermajors have powerful mandibles useful for cutting up and carrying large prey items. The supermajor pictured here was able to single-handedly drag this very large beetle larva across the substrate while I photographed them. Rossville, Queensland, Australia
Assassin bugs are sit-and-wait predators. This Zelus tetracanthus arrived at a blacklight insect trap and intercepted incoming prey, in this case a male trap-jaw ant.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Assassin bugs are sit-and-wait predators. This Zelus tetracanthus arrived at a blacklight insect trap and intercepted incoming prey, in this case a male trap-jaw ant. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Assassin bugs are sit-and-wait predators. This Zelus tetracanthus arrived at a blacklight insect trap and intercepted incoming prey, in this case a male trap-jaw ant.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
See photo in original gallery.
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013