myrmecos.net

Pheidole dentata & Neivamyrmex opacithorax
Texas, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2007

A Pheidole dentata soldier (top) is surprisingly effective against raiding army ants (center), which fall to the ground after being crushed in the soldier's strong mandibles.  The odds do not favor the Pheidole, however, as they are normally greatly outnumbered by their attackers.   

 
USA TX Bastrop Co.: 8 km NNW Smithville
140m 30º05.1´N 97º10.1´W 
22.iii.2007 Oak-Pine forest, 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.