Mystrium camillae

Mystrium ants have clubbed mandibles capable of striking with tremendous force when released. Laboratory animal at the University of Illinois, collected in Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois, collected in Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

Worker ants tend to larvae in a laboratory colony at the University of Illinois. Collected in Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois, collected in Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

Portrait of a major worker. Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois, collected originally in Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

Colonies of the rare amblyoponine genus Mystrium have workers of different sizes and body proportions. Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois, originally collected in Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

Portrait of a minor worker. Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois, collected originally in Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

Dracula ant. Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

Worker dracula ants tend to brood in a laboratory colony at the Unversity of Illinois, where the biomechanical properties of their unusual mandibles are being studied. Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium camillae

This Mystrium worker is used for studies on the mechanics of ant mandibles at the University of Illinois. Originally collected in Maliau Basin, Borneo.

Mystrium oberthueri

Madagascar

Mystrium oberthueri. The impressive jaws of this ant suggest a predatory specialization, although the habits of this species remain poorly studied. Madagascar

Mystrium voeltzkowi

Madagascar

Mystrium oberthueri, posing with a pupa in a laboratory colony. Madagascar

Mystrium oberthueri Madagascar

Mystrium voeltzkowi

Mystrium voeltzkowi has an unusual caste system. These ants are dimorphic, with a small red caste that appears to work mostly in the brood nest and a larger, dark caste that performs most of the foraging and guarding of the nest. Interestingly, the ants that perform as reproductive queens are drawn from the smaller caste. Madagascar.