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Myrmecodia ant-plant
Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia

photograph © Alex Wild 2004

A cluster of epiphytic Myrmecodia ant-plants in an Australian woodland.  The swollen base of Myrmecodia is hollow, with an intricate gallery of chambers that house aggressive Philidris ants.  The ants defend the plant and provide the plant with nutrients.

 
Australia, QLD: Iron Range National Park
13 km WNW Lockhart River
26.viii.2004, 12º45'S 143º14'E, 50m
Eucalyptus woodland.

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.