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
Supermajor and minor workers. Rossville, Queensland, Australia
Pheidologeton affinis marauder ants have one of the largest size disparities between the largest and smallest worker ants in a colony. Here a supermajor uses her massive jaws to cut through tree bark while minor workers stand by. The ants have discovered beetle larvae- a favored prey item- underneath the bark. Rossville, Queensland, Australia