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Nomamyrmex esenbeckii & Atta colombica
Panamá

photograph © Alex Wild 2007

Nomamyrmex army ants are among the few animals that successfully attack leaf-cutter ant nests. The leaf-cutters are not without their defenses, however.  Here two Atta workers kill a Nomamyrmex esenbeckii scout that has crossed their path, preventing the army ant colony from discovering the leaf-cutter's trail.  

Panamá, Panamá.: Pipeline Road.
09º08.0'N 79º43.3'W 80m. 29.vii.2007
Trail of ants on rainforest floor.
#AW2918, voucher specimens deposited at 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 MPE 65mm 1-5x macro lens.