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Solenopsis xyloni - native fire ant
Arizona, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2008

Fire ants are not often thought of as granivores, but they do sometimes consume seeds.  Here, a worker uses her mandibles to pry grass seeds off the stalk.

 
USA AZ Pima Co.: Tucson
32º14.24'N 110º56.44'W 750m. iii.2008
Urban lot.

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 MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens.