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Gracilidris pombero nest entrance
Paraguay

photograph © Alex Wild 2002

A one-sided turret structure renders the nest entrance of Gracilidris ants nearly invisible from above- this photograph is taken from the side.  I spent nearly half an hour looking for this nest after spotting a few foraging ants, and I would never have noticed it had I not seen an ant suddenly disappear into the cryptic hole pictured here.  The entrance is scarcely wider than the ants themselves.

 
Paraguay, Pte. Hayes: 5k SE Pozo Colorado
6.xii.2002, 23º33'S 58º46'W, 100m.  Humid Chaco.
#AW1766, voucher specimens deposited at ALWC, BMNH, IBNP, IFML, LACM, MCZC, MHNG, UCDC, USNM.

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 Nikon Coolpix 995.