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Eciton hamatum soldier. The recurved mandibles are used to defend the colony from vertebrate predators. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii major and media workers. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton hamatum soldier. The recurved mandibles are used to defend the colony from vertebrate predators. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Camponotus pennsylvanicus, the eastern black carpenter ant. This individual is a major worker, indicated by the disproportionately muscular head. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Cephalotes varians. A soldier ant blocks the nest entrance with her head- visible as a broad disk- while a second soldier walks by. Competition for limited nesting sites is fierce, and soldiers prevent other ant species from usurping their territory. Florida Keys, USA
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
Pheidologeton affinis, supermajor and minor workers. Pheidologeton has one of the most pronounced size differences among nestmate workers of any ant. Rossville, Queensland, Australia
Major and minor workers of Cephalotes rohweri, the Arizona turtle ant. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Cephalotes rohweri, the Arizona turtle ant. The broad head disc of this soldier is used in nature to block the nest entrance. This species nests in old burrows of wood-boring beetles and constantly faces usurpation by competing ants. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Eciton hamatum soldier. The recurved mandibles are used to defend the colony from vertebrate predators.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton hamatum soldier. The recurved mandibles are used to defend the colony from vertebrate predators. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton hamatum soldier. The recurved mandibles are used to defend the colony from vertebrate predators.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
See photo in original gallery.
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013