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Odontomachus clarus - Trap-Jaw Ant
Arizona, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2005

Although the mandibles of trap-jaw ants appear designed primarily for hunting, they also must serve in more traditional roles to excavate the nest and carry brood.  Here two young workers carry larvae in the brood nest.  Their color will darken with age.

 
USA AZ Cochise Co.: Southwestern Research Station, Chiricahua Mtns., 7km WSW Portal
1650m 31º53´N 109º12´W 
9.viii.2005  Oak-juniper woodland, under stone.   #AW2667, voucher specimen 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 D60, with a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.