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Liometopum occidentale - California Velvety Tree Ant
Northern California, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2005

On a warm summer night, male Liometopum ants emerge from a nest entrance in an old oak tree.  In this species, males (like the winged ant pictured at center) are much larger insects than workers.

 
USA CA: Solano Co.  Cold Canyon entrance.  26.v.2005  38º30.667'N 122º05.841'W, 100m
Riparian oak woodland.
AW#2630, voucher specimens deposited in ALWC.

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.