Leaf carrier with model
Leaf carrier with model
Leaf carrier with model
There are a number of leaf cutter ants, so named because they chew leaves. They are a tropical species which grow fungus and can be found in South and Central America, Mexico, and parts of the southern United States
Leaf carrier
Leaf carrier with model
Leaf carrier with model
Not all leaf cutter ants cut leaves. some carry them too. They process the leaves to make food for the fungus they feed on.
Super major
Leaf carrier with model
Harpegnathos
Super major ants are soldiers and defend the colony. They have large heads to give their jaws great strength for fighting.
Harpegnathos
Camponotus queen and worker
Harpegnathos
Harpegnathos ants have complex colonies and are able to jump. They can be found in south and south east asia.
Camponotus queen and worker
Camponotus queen and worker
Camponotus queen and worker
Campanotus are also known as carpenter ants. Their name refers to the fact they use wood to build their nests. They can be found in many forested areas around the world. The queen is ont he left, worker on the right.
Camponotus major and minor
Camponotus queen and worker
Camponotus queen and worker
_minor(right).jpeg/:/rs=w:388,h:194,cg:true,m/cr=w:388,h:194/qt=q:1)
The Florida carpenter ant C. floridanus possesses two distinct worker castes: Major and Minor workers. These two worker castes display disparate morphologies and behaviors, where Minor workers perform foraging for the colony and nursing of brood, while Major workers defend the nest. These ants are highly related, yet look and act very different. This points to epigenetic regulation being key for their unique differences.
Harpegnathos on the hunt
Harpegnathos on the hunt
Harpegnathos on the hunt
Harpegnathos saltator have a unique life history when compared to most other ants, as they hunt live prey. Here, you can see a H. saltator female stinging a live cricket with a venom comprised of a unique paralytic. Note the large eyes of these ants, which helps their visual hunting style.
Leaf carrier
Harpegnathos on the hunt
Harpegnathos on the hunt
A leaf carrier of the species Atta cephalotes. A. cephalotes have 10 unique castes, including the queen and male. Leaf carriers keep their antennae pointing down to the ground to smell a trail they laid in order to return to their nest.
Antonia
Harpegnathos on the hunt
Antonia
Antonia is Balint’s passion project. The goal is science communication and show young audiences that ants are not gross, but a truly remarkable system to study.