myrmecos.net

Lasius (Acanthomyops) occidentalis - Citronella Ants
Arizona, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2006

A young queen (center) and worker citronella ants.  Queens of this species are scarcely larger than the workers, a common trait among parasitic ants.  This species normally starts new colonies as social parasites in the nests of other Lasius species- queens infiltrate the nests, dispatch the resident queen, and assume the role of reproduction.

 
USA AZ Cochise Co.: Chiricahua Mountains, Pinery Canyon 31º58.25'N 109º19.65'W 1720m. 15.viii.2006.  Oak-Juniper Woodland, under stone.
A.L.Wild, coll. #AW2855, voucher specimens in 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 MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens.