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Formica exsectoides (?)
I'm not really sure what's going on in this picture. About 2/3 of the red and black ants in this area were carrying what appeared to be a dead (?) ant similar to, but somewhat larger than, its bearer. Are the carried ants fallen comrades or the spoils of war?
Spotted on Sep 6, 2011
Submitted on Sep 6, 2011
1 Comment
I finally found out what is going on with these ants. Ants will often `piggyback` each other when they are traveling long distances. What I was seeing here was a very typical `social carrying`pose (See:http://www.flickr.com/photos/msitua/2661718938/in/set-72157607660637627). This means that the carried ant is neither dead nor larger than the carrying ant. It was simply rolled into a position that looks terribly awkward, but, since it is a classic social carrying posture, must be somehow comfortable.