alexwild > This predatory Rhytidoponera worker has captured a caterpillar and is carrying it back to her nest.

Mungkan Kandju National Park, Queensland, Australia
alexwild > The beautiful Rhytidoponera purpurea is found in the rainforests of northern Australia and New Guinea.  It is one of many species whose distribution spans both islands, suggesting a recent land connection across the Torres straight.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
alexwild > The greenheaded ant, Rhytidoponera metallica is capable of inflicting a very painful sting.

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
alexwild > Rhytidoponera carinata

Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia
alexwild > Ectatomma tuberculatum tending the extrafloral nectary of an Inga tree.  Many plants provide nectar to ants in exchange for protection from herbivores.

Gamboa, Panama
alexwild > Ectatomma tuberculatum tending extrafloral nectaries on an Inga tree.  Many plants provide nectar to ants in exchange for protection from herbivores.

Gamboa, Panama
alexwild > The beautiful Rhytidoponera purpurea is found in the rainforests of northern Australia and New Guinea.  It is one of many species whose distribution spans both islands, suggesting a recent land connection across the Torres straight.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
alexwild > Rhytidoponera ants cooperate to carry a dead caterpillar back to their nest.

Wilson's Promontory National Park, Victoria, Australia
alexwild > Ants will not often consume dead ants of their own species, but they may readily take ant carcasses of other species.  Here a Rhytidoponera worker has found the carcass of a large Camponotus and is dragging it back to her nest where it will be fed to hungry larvae.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
This predatory Rhytidoponera worker has captured a caterpillar and is carrying it back to her nest.

Mungkan Kandju National Park, Queensland, Australia
alexwild > This predatory Rhytidoponera worker has captured a caterpillar and is carrying it back to her nest.

Mungkan Kandju National Park, Queensland, Australia
This predatory Rhytidoponera worker has captured a caterpillar and is carrying it back to her nest.

Mungkan Kandju National Park, Queensland, Australia
See photo in gallery

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all images and text © Alex Wild 2009

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