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Neivamyrmex melanocephalus - army ant
Arizona, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2006

Army ants initiating a live-ant bridge with their own bodies.  The two initiating ants push against each other to raise their bodies up, and additional ants will climb aboard to extend the bridge upward.

 
USA AZ Santa Cruz Co.: Sycamore Canyon, 
24km WNW Nogales. 1200m 31º25´N 111º12´W 
11.xi.2006 Oak-Juniper woodland, raiding column of ants under stones and above ground.
A. L. Wild #AW2871, voucher specimens 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 20D, using a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.