My last post was a tutorial on how to identify the famous bullet ant, Paraponera clavata. Tonight’s challenge requires you to put this knowledge to the test.
The following list links to 10 photographs of various species flickr users have identified as “bullet ants”:
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/29096471@N05/9818319654
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/28008027@N07/5018928025
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/68312640@N00/2528635293
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/64030452@N03/6747284197
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/56813221@N06/6923637878
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/43972611@N08/4158754754
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/82333312@N07/9706758910
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/24792820@N03/8673997633
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/30072667@N00/363044296
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/31318028@N00/5706217283
I will award one point per item to the first correct guess of each mystery insect. Identifications must be at provided to at least the level of genus.
The cumulative points winner for the month of December will win their choice of:
1) A guest post here on Myrmecos
2) Any 8×10 print from my insect photography galleries
3) A myrmecos t-shirt
Good luck!
9 comments on Monday Night Mystery: The Case of the Bullet Ant
Paraponera
Atta
Dinoponera
Camponotus
Pachycodyla
Gigantiops
Paraponera
Cephalotes
Paraponera
Camponotus
Whoops, 5 should be Pachycondyla
1 – Paraponera
2- Atta
3- Dinoponera
4- Camponotus
5- Pachycondyla
6- Gigantiops
7- Paraponera
8-Cephalotes
9-Paraponera
10-Camponotus
1- Paraponera clavata
2- Atta cephalotes
3- Dinoponera
4- Camponotus
5- Pachycondyla villosa
6- Gigantiops
7- Paraponera clavata
8- Cephalotes atratus
9- Paraponera clavata
10- Camponotus
1. Paraponera clavata
2. Atta cephalotes
3. Dinoponera australis (and possibly a worker of Atta sexdens – right side of the photo)
4. Camponotus rufipes – not so sure about the ID
5. Pachycondyla villosa
6. Gigantiops destructor
7. Paraponera clavata
8. Cephalotes atratus
9. Paraponera clavata
10. Camponotus sericeiventris
Awesome gyne’s profile, by the way.
And it seems you have a very helpful follower that commented in every single picture stating to the authors the right genus.
1. Paraponera clavata
2. Atta
3. Dinoponera
4. Camponotus
5. Pachycondyla
6. Gigantiops
7. Paraponera clavata
8. Cephalotes
9. Paraponera clavata
10. Camponotus
I couldn’t resist a taxonomic challenge. Thanks Alex – I learned something new!
I found the same genera but find it a pity that someone copied the genera-names 10 hours ago to the photographs… no fun anymore… but I solved them without looking at the responses!
Like your inclusion of Gigantiops when you keep in mind all the reports about the “symbiosis” between the two species, G. nesting close to P.
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