#formicidaefridays

Woof! Myrmecia gulosa is called the red bull ant or bulldog ant because it's aggressive! You'd think with such powerful looking jaws, they would be doing some heavy chomping, but adults favor nectar and sweet liquids and instead bring back insects to their nests for their larvae. . . . #formicidaefridays #redbullant #Myrmecia gulosa #hoppyjoe #jackjumperants #ants #insects #formicidae #myrmecology #bugsofinsta #entomology #naturalhistory #biodiversity #itsallgoodep #instaeptx #museumlife #elpaso411 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bya360XBqBz/?igshid=1luyxcwps6cn4

Azteca is a genus of ants that has a close symbiotic relationship with Cecropia plants. The plants provide shelter and food while the Azteca ants aggressively defend the trees from herbivores and potential parasitic plants. Workers destroy any foreign plants that might be found on their home. . . . #formicidaefridays #ants #Azteca #Cercropia #itsallgoodep #instaeptx #naturalhistory #formicidae #biodiversity #entomology #myrmecology #bugsofinsta #bugs #insects https://www.instagram.com/p/BxlADgHBoVI/?igshid=md547pvc9wbf

How bad could the bite from an ant that is just slightly bigger than the point of a pencil be? Pretty bad according to Longini and Fernandez 2007, almost as bad as fire ants despite being smaller. And they're not just painful in their bites, the electric ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) as they're called are devastatingly invasive, harming species diversity of insects, arachnids and even attacking tortoise hatchlings in the Galapagos. . . . #Wasmannia #auropunctata #formicidaefridays #ants #myrmecology #entomology #bugsofinsta #insects #specimen #museumlife #naturalhistory #invasive #biodiversity #instaeptx #elpaso411 #itsallgoodep #nature #macrophotography #bug #pestcontrol https://www.instagram.com/p/BwK1jIxBjrk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=y6wg49u9ihyg

Although an ordinary looking and behaving ant, Manica rubida is not as harmless as they look. Swiss myrmecologist Auguste-Henri Forel said "tout le monde craint la pique des fourmis (Everyone fears the bite of these ants)" but also noted that the species wasn't aggressive unless provoked. . . . #formicidaefridays #Manica #rubida #ants #bugsofinsta #myrmecology #entomology #museumlife #naturalhistory #itsallgoodep #instaeptx #formicidae https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv40QZxBDl_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16aw70o3nuqjw

What an unusual looking face! Rhopalothrix have differently shaped mandibles than closely related genera and tiny eyes, along with their lumpy face. Although we think they live underground, scientists don't know too much about these mysterious ants, since a live specimen has never been documented. . . . #Rhopalothrix #ciliata #Columbia #ants #formicidaefridays #elpaso411 #itsallgoodep #instaeptx #naturalhistory #museumlife #bugsofinsta #myrmecology https://www.instagram.com/p/BvC3cfrB7Ld/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7hyh94iomcuv

What a queen of thieves! Solenopsis carolinensis is a species of thief ants. They nest close to other nests and when you least expect it, steal food and larvae and run away! . . . #formicidaefridays #ants #bugsofinsta #formicidae #Solenopsis #fireants #carolinensis #myrmecology #entomology #itsallgoodep #instaeptx #elpaso411 https://www.instagram.com/p/BufQOyxBGc8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ckdymb23nohl

From Bolivia and Brazil! This particular species of the fungus growing ant genus, Cyphomyrmex, hasn't had its queen described yet. We wonder if that will be in the works soon! . . . #formicidaefridays #itsallgoodep #instaeptx #elpaso411 #myrmecology #entomology #ants #bugsofinsta #museumlife #Cyphomyrmex #vorticis https://www.instagram.com/p/BtpFpxOg6xV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1en8o7lbmoc1

Happy #FormicidaeFridays. We hope you've all done well on your finals! Mycerarotes is a small genus of only 4 species that all cultivate fungus in South America. They might just be the perfect taxa to study the origin of fungus gardens in ants because they're easy to keep, common and have species specific fungus gardens. . . . #Mycetarotes #fungusgrowers #ants #insects #bugsofinsta #myrmecology #entomology #formicidae #itsallgoodep #instaeptx #museumlife #elpaso411 #biodiversity https://www.instagram.com/p/BrYTQAwhDgW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=hc5rwtk4yetf