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Pyramica membranifera
Arizona, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2007

Pyramica is among the strangest-looking of all ants.  These highly specialized underground predators are covered in strange pits and spoon-shaped hairs, with some hairs around the waist modified into broad spongy plates.  Their eyes are small and located on the bottom of the head, and the antennae have lost several segments. 

 
USA AZ Pima Co.: Tucson
32º14.05'N 110º54.90'W 730m. 23.x.2007.
Ant nest under stone next to sidewalk, urban.
#AW2934 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 MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens.