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Pyramica arizonica
Arizona, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2006

One of the oddest ants in North America is Pyramica arizonica, a minute, strangely-ornamented species found only inside the nests of the much larger Trachymyrmex fungus-growing ants.  These ants are only a couple millimeters long and are probably specialist predators on small arthropods.  Their relationship with the larger Trachymyrmex is unclear, but the larger ants seem to ignore the Pyramica in their midst and let them forage freely.

 
USA AZ Santa Cruz Co.: Sycamore Canyon, 
24km WNW Nogales.
1200m 31º25´N 111º12´W 
7.x.2006 Oak woodland, Pyramica in and around entrance tunnel of Trachymyrmex nest.

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 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.