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pogolumina  > Other ants > Pheidole
Amazing ants of the genus Pheidole imaged in Arizona, USA.
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pogolumina > ● Old Spanish Trail Rd, near Tucson [Pima Co], AZ USA [el. 1049 m / 3442 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/04/2010 4:01PM sunny, air temp: 26°C / 79°F [IMAGE 1 of 2] A beautiful Pheidole xerophila major worker near Tucson, AZ USA. The disproportionately large heads of the majors house the muscles that drive their powerful mandibles - useful for defensive duties, and for milling seeds.
pogolumina > ● Old Spanish Trail Rd, near Tucson [Pima Co], AZ USA [el. 1049 m / 3442 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/04/2010 4:01PM sunny, air temp: 26°C / 79°F [IMAGE 2 of 2] A beautiful Pheidole xerophila major worker near Tucson, AZ USA. The disproportionately large heads of the majors house the muscles that drive their powerful mandibles - useful for defensive duties, and for milling seeds.
pogolumina > ● Old Spanish Trail Rd, near Tucson [Pima Co], AZ USA [el. 1049 m / 3442 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/04/2010 4:02PM sunny, air temp: 26°C / 79°F There was much activity around this P. xerophila nest on this warm, November afternoon. Many minor workers (the small black ants seen here) performed nest maintenance, and ventured forth on foraging trails - often returning with seeds or tiny flowers. A major worker is seen here as well, and appeared to be guarding the area around the nest entrance.
pogolumina > ● Old Spanish Trail Rd, near Tucson [Pima Co], AZ USA [el. 1049 m / 3442 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/04/2010 4:03PM sunny, air temp: 26°C / 79°F Pheidole xerophila major and minor workers.
pogolumina > ● Old Spanish Trail Rd, near Colossal Cave Mountain Park [Pima Co], AZ USA [el. 1049 m / 3442 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/04/2010 4:05PM sunny, air temp: 26°C / 79°F At this P. xerophila nest near Tucson, AZ, it was obvious that the minor workers were performing the bulk of the foraging duties. They were frequently accompanied by a small number of majors, however. These large workers were also occasionally seen traveling the foraging trails alone, like this one. They were not observed to be transporting any food items - their duty was apparently to defend the minors.
pogolumina > ● Old Spanish Trail Rd, near Colossal Cave Mountain Park [Pima Co], AZ USA [el. 1049 m / 3442 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/04/2010 4:12PM sunny, air temp: 26°C / 79°F [IMAGE 1 of 2] These two images show Pheidole xerophila minor workers leaving from, and returning to the nest area. Many brought back tiny white flowers and other potential food items.
pogolumina > ● Old Spanish Trail Rd, near Colossal Cave Mountain Park [Pima Co], AZ USA [el. 1049 m / 3442 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/04/2010 4:13PM sunny, air temp: 26°C / 79°F [IMAGE 2 of 2] These two images show Pheidole xerophila minor workers leaving from, and returning to the nest area. Many brought back tiny white flowers and other potential food items.
pogolumina > ● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/03/2010 9:20AM sunny, windy, air temp: 21°C / 70°F [IMAGE 1 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] An intruding major (at right of image) is attacked by a defending major of the home colony (a few majors, like this one, were much darker than the others). A leg was lost in this confrontation, though not the one being worked-on in this image. Shortly after this image was captured, the defending ‘home’ major broke off, and left the area. For the purposes of these images, I refer to the colony that is being attack (or intruded upon) as the 'home' colony. [scroll down for additional notes/references] ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from. These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
pogolumina > ● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/03/2010 9:21AM sunny, windy, air temp: 21°C / 70°F [IMAGE 2 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] The intruding major is now beset by two minors - one of which pulls on the major’s left antenna from below. The other antenna has already been truncated. [scroll down for additional notes/references] ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from. These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
pogolumina > ● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/03/2010 9:29AM sunny, windy, air temp: 21°C / 70°F [IMAGE 3 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] Left alone for a moment, the intruding (and wounded) P. obtusospinosa major pauses briefly. Three minutes later, she was dragged down by six ‘home’ minors, and pinned to the ground. Other minors joined the fight soon after, completely immobilizing the intruder (I was unable to get a good image of this due the obscuring twigs and leaves). For the purposes of these images, I refer to the colony that is being attack (or intruded upon) as the 'home' colony. [scroll down for additional notes/references] ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from. These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
pogolumina > ● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/03/2010 9:37AM sunny, windy, air temp: 21°C / 70°F [IMAGE 4 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] As the intruding major is pinned down by 6-8 defending minors, an enormous ‘home’ supermajor arrives and surveys the scene below. In the lower-left corner of the image, the gaster (rear abdominal body part) of the trapped intruder can be seen. The supermajor nipped at the trapped intruder’s gaster a few times, but did nothing else. In this case, the home minors appeared to have the situation under control, and still had the (apparently dying) intruding major pinned down when I left the area. Also note the damage to the supermajor's enormous head, and a missing antenna - presumably the results of previous battles. For the purposes of these images, I refer to the colony that is being attack (or intruded upon) as the 'home' colony. [scroll down for additional notes/references] ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from. These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
pogolumina > ● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/03/2010 9:42AM sunny, windy, air temp: 21°C / 70°F [IMAGE 5 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] A closer view of the supermajor from the previous image. Their heads are covered with a dense and complex surface sculpture which is significantly different from that the ‘regular’ majors. Also note the missing antenna, and battle scars. [scroll down for additional notes/references] ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from. These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
pogolumina > ● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/03/2010 9:45AM sunny, windy, air temp: 21°C / 70°F [IMAGE 6 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] Yet another view of the supermajor from the previous two images, this time shown with a minor worker nestmate. The enormous differences in size and proportion between the smallest and largest workers, are clearly illustrated here. [scroll down for additional notes/references] ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from. These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
pogolumina > ● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/05/2010 9:32AM sunny, windy, air temp: 22°C / 71°F [IMAGE 7 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] Two days later, at a different nest in the same area... this time, a supermajor entered the nest area of a neighboring colony. She was soon engaged by a supermajor, and minors of the home colony. As the intruder was held fast by the defenders, another ’home’ supermajor used her powerful mandibles to easily break through the intruder's head capsule. This left a gaping hole in the ant's right occipital lobe. Minors assisted by pulling on the legs and antennae of the intruder. For the purposes of these images, I refer to the colony that is being attack (or intruded upon) as the 'home' colony. [scroll down for additional notes/references] ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from. These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
pogolumina > ● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/05/2010 9:33AM sunny, windy, air temp: 22°C / 71°F [IMAGE 8 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] Another view of an intruding P. obtusospinosa supermajor being held from below by a home supermajor, and some minors, while another home supermajor inflicts fatal damage to her. For the purposes of these images, I refer to the colony that is being attack (or intruded upon) as the 'home' colony. [scroll down for additional notes/references] ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from. These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps »
● 11/03/2010 9:29AM sunny, windy, air temp: 21°C / 70°F

[IMAGE 3 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] Left alone for a moment, the intruding (and wounded) P. obtusospinosa major pauses briefly. Three minutes later, she was dragged down by six ‘home’ minors, and pinned to the ground. Other minors joined the fight soon after, completely immobilizing the intruder (I was unable to get a good image of this due the obscuring twigs and leaves). For the purposes of these images, I refer to the colony that is being attack (or intruded upon) as the 'home' colony. [scroll down for additional notes/references]

ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES:

These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from.

These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
pogolumina > ● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/03/2010 9:29AM sunny, windy, air temp: 21°C / 70°F [IMAGE 3 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] Left alone for a moment, the intruding (and wounded) P. obtusospinosa major pauses briefly. Three minutes later, she was dragged down by six ‘home’ minors, and pinned to the ground. Other minors joined the fight soon after, completely immobilizing the intruder (I was unable to get a good image of this due the obscuring twigs and leaves). For the purposes of these images, I refer to the colony that is being attack (or intruded upon) as the 'home' colony. [scroll down for additional notes/references] ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from. These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
● Madera Canyon (Whitehouse Picnic Area), AZ [el. 1364 m / 4474 ft] view location in Google Maps »
● 11/03/2010 9:29AM sunny, windy, air temp: 21°C / 70°F

[IMAGE 3 of 9 - see notes below for background info on this series of Pheidole obtusospinosa images] Left alone for a moment, the intruding (and wounded) P. obtusospinosa major pauses briefly. Three minutes later, she was dragged down by six ‘home’ minors, and pinned to the ground. Other minors joined the fight soon after, completely immobilizing the intruder (I was unable to get a good image of this due the obscuring twigs and leaves). For the purposes of these images, I refer to the colony that is being attack (or intruded upon) as the 'home' colony. [scroll down for additional notes/references]

ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES:

These Pheidole battles were observed on 11/3/2010 and 11/5/2010. In both cases, it appeared that workers of a nearby Pheidole obtusospinosa nest attacked, or simply wandered into the nest area of another colony of the same species. All three types of workers (minor, major and supermajor) were seen engaging in defense of the colonies, though the supermajors inflicted the most damage. In both cases, I was not able to find the exact locations of the nests where the intruders came from.

These images were captured in Madera Canyon (border of Pima and Santa Cruz counties), in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. The elevation was measured at 1364 m / 4474 ft. The ants were found in a juniper/oak woodland area, and were in partial shade. Air temperatures ranged from 21°C/70°F to 23°C/74°F. Two nests were seen. One of these had a small, irregular spread of fine sand and gravel around a single entrance (entrance approx. 8mm wide). The entrance of the other observed nest was hidden somewhere in a tangle of twigs, leaves, and other debris. Both of these nests were located immediately adjacent to a paved walkway. These battles took place amongst a profusion of twigs and leaves, so much of this action was very difficult to capture photographically. I did my best under the circumstances…
Camera: Canon (Canon Eos 7d) |
more details: exif |
original size: 3869px x 2579px |
Current: 600px x 400px |
Other sizes: S • Medium • L |
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All Images, Video and Text (unless otherwise noted) © 2010/11/12 David Louis Quinn