myrmecos.net

Onychomyrmex hedleyi
North Queensland, Australia

photograph © Alex Wild 2004

Onychomyrmex ants with a cache of larvae. These Amblyoponine ants have evolved a life cycle similar to that of the distantly-related nomadic army ants, and one aspect in which they resemble army ants is in the synchronization of the brood cycle.  At any given time, all the brood in the colony is about the same age.  In this case, as young larvae.

 
Australia, QLD: Daintree National Park, Cape Tribulation section. 3.5 km W Cape Tribulation.
28.viii.2004, 16º05'S 145º27'E, 600m.
Rainforest on windswept ridge.
#AW2577, 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 D60, with a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.