weird ant with a very big head
Found this weird ant on our table, it has a very big head. Does anyone know what type of ant this is? (Found in New Zealand). Im guesing because of its large mandibles its probably not a worker ant instead perhaps its a soldier.
Also I just learnt the different forms of an ant (queen, worker, soldier) are called castes.
3 replies
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/discover-our-research/biodiversity-biosecurity/plants-invertebrates-fungi-and-bacteria/invertebrate-systematics/ants-wasps-and-bees/ants-of-new-zealand/pheidole-megacephala/
That one is probably a major worker. They use their big mandibles to break seeds and cut stuff up for the minor workers, who have smaller heads, to transport back to the nest.
thank you!from the article you linked It does look like its probably thaInteresting. I didn't know about major and minor workers, but it makes sense, very interesting thank you. Do you know if all ants have major and minor castes? or is it just some species?
he must have just posted a fairly telling point to end a comments war online.