Mystrium mysticum ants
Mystrium mysticum
Mystrium mysticum
Andavakoera, Prov. Antsiranana, Madagascar
photograph © Alex Wild 2004
Mystrium
ants have an unusual caste system. They are dimorphic,
with a small, red caste that appears to work mostly in the brood nest and
a larger, dark caste that performs most of the foraging and guarding of
the nest. Interestingly, the ants that perform as reproductive queens
are drawn from the smaller caste.
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