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Pheidole dentata & Neivamyrmex opacithorax
Texas, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2007

The brood of Pheidole ants are favored prey for many army ants. Pheidole are not without their defenses against army ant raids, however.  Major workers with their powerful jaws are specialized for nest defense, and here a defending major (top right) attacks Neivamyrmex army ants as they attempt to make off with Pheidole larvae.

 
USA TX Bastrop Co.: 8 km NNW Smithville
140m 30º05.1´N 97º10.1´W 
22.iii.2007 Roadside, army ants raiding Pheidole nest. #ALW2898


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.