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Pheidole sp. - big-headed ant
Victoria, Australia

photograph © Alex Wild 2005

In some species of Pheidole, major workers adopt the role of food storage similar to that of honeypot ants.  The swollen gaster of this ant is full of food which may be regurgitated to nestmates on demand.

 
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.