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Wasmannia auropunctata - Little Fire Ant
Panamá

photograph © Alex Wild 2007

Wasmannia auropunctata, native to the forests of Central and South America, is among the most damaging pest ants when introduced elsewhere.  Although only a couple millimeters long, these ants are well known for overrunning islands and causing declines in the populations of native animals.  Among their impacts: reducing the population of the famous Galápagos tortoises by preying on hatchlings.

 
Panamá, Panamá.: Gamboa
09º07.0'N 79º42.1'W 35m. 28.vii.2007
Trail of ants on palm trunk.
#AW2917, voucher specimens deposited at ALWC.


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 MPE 65mm 1-5x macro lens.