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Azteca isthmica Cecropia Ant Queen
Panamá

photograph © Alex Wild 2007

A young Azteca queen cuts into the soft tissue of a Cecropia tree to gain access to the hollow center.  The trees welcome such an intrusion: the resident Azteca colony founded by this queen will provide ample protection from herbivores.


 
Panamá: Coclé. El Valle.
08º37'N 80º08'W 600m
vii.2007 Secondary forest edge, ex Cecropia sp.

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 20D, using a Canon 65mm MP-E 1-5x macro lens.