Stigmatomma oregonensis

Inside the brood nest of the specialist centipede predator Stigmatomma oregonensis. Note the larvae feeding on a centipede carcass at left. Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis

Stigmatomma oregonensis is an old-growth forest specialist that nests in large rotting logs. Here, a worker transports a larva. Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis

Predatory dracula ants cluster about a centipede they have paralyzed. Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis

Larval hemolymph feeding in Stigmatomma oregonensis dracula ants. Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis

Dracula ants in a laboratory nest. Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis

Adult Stigmatomma cannot eat solid food and are incapable of the trophallaxis behavior that allows most other ant species to share food among nestmates. Instead, they have developed a novel way to feed themselves: consuming the hemolymph of nestmate larvae. Ants puncture vulnerable spots in the larval skin- as the ant in the center demonstrates- and lap up the drops of hemolymph. Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis

Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis

Stigmatomma oregonensis is a specialist predator of geophilomorph centipedes. Here, two workers attempt to sting the front end of a centipede while the back end pulls them across the substrate. Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis

Many of the most ancient lineages of ants show little size difference between queens and workers. Here, a queen sits atop a pile of brood in a laboratory nest; the other individuals are workers. Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis

Ouch! A dracula ant sinks her sting deep into the head capsule of a centipede. Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma oregonensis

Stigmatomma oregonensis is a specialist predator of geophilomorph centipedes. Here, a worker ant carries a centipede it has paralyzed back to her nest. Quincy, California, USA

Stigmatomma pallipes

Pulling back a stone reveals an underground nest of dracula ants. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Stigmatomma pallipes

Eggs and larvae in a nest of North American dracula ants. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Stigmatomma pallipes

Worker with eggs and pupae. South Bristol, New York, USA

Stigmatomma pallipes

Dracula ant worker with larvae. This species is the most common and widespread of the North American Stigmatomma. South Bristol, New York, USA

Stigmatomma pallipes

South Bristol, New York, USA

Stigmatomma pallipes

Stigmatomma pallipes is the common dracula ant of eastern North America. Urbana, Illinois, USA

Stigmatomma pallipes

Stigmatomma pallipes is nearly blind, its eyes reduced to mere spots. Urbana, Illinois, USA

Stigmatomma pallipes

A dracula ant showing its distinctive mandibular teeth. Urbana, Illinois, USA

Stigmatomma pallipes

Unmated queens, still bearing wings, in the nest. South Bristol, New York, USA

Stigmatomma sp.

Kibale forest, Uganda

Stigmatomma sp.

Stigmatomma worker ant shows her characteristically toothy mandibles, presumably an adaptation for capturing arthropod prey. Kibale forest, Uganda

Stigmatomma sp.

Kibale forest, Uganda

Stigmatomma sp.

An undescribed dracula ant species from Madagascar. A large portion of the world's ant fauna remains undocumented, especially in the tropics. Madagascar