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Amblyopone oregonensis
Northern Sierra Nevada, California, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2004

The function of the unusual mandibles of Amblyopone ants is readily apparent when the ants work over a centipede they have paralyzed.  Amblyopone oregonensis is a highly specialized predator of geophilomorph centipedes.

 
USA CA, Plumas Co.: 8km NW Quincy
25.vi.2004  40º00'N 120º59'W, 1030m
Pseudotsuga forest, ex large rotting log.
#AW2375, voucher specimens in ALWC and MHNG.

This image is copyrighted by the photographer and cannot be used without permission. To obtain permission to use this image, please email Alex Wild. (alwild (at) myrmecos.net).  Most of the photographs on myrmecos.net are reduced from their original size and compressed for more efficient web transmission.  In some cases, higher quality versions are available.

This image was captured with a Canon EOS D60, with a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.