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Pheidole sp. - big-headed ant
Victoria, Australia

photograph © Alex Wild 2005

They might not look it, but these two ants are sisters.  Pheidole species have impressive caste differences among nestmates, with large workers specializing in the grinding of seeds and dissembly of large prey items and the small workers handling brood care, nest maintenance, and other tasks.

 
Australia, VIC: Yandoit, c. 18 km SW Castlemaine.
37º11.310'S 144º04.765'E, 290m, 22.x.2005
Dry Sclerophyll, nest under stone.


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, using a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.