JungleDragon is a nature and wildlife community for photographers, travellers and anyone who loves nature. We're genuine, free, ad-free and beautiful.

Join

'Ladies Night' at the club The ants and I have come out of hibernation - seems there&#039;s been some absolutely wonderful pictures uploaded to JD while I&#039;ve been away!<br /> <br /> I uploaded this one because I thought it would be of interest to see the diverse size range of the Messor Barbarus species. They are just drinking water - I like how they all come together and drink, rather sociable :) Messor barbarus Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

'Ladies Night' at the club

The ants and I have come out of hibernation - seems there's been some absolutely wonderful pictures uploaded to JD while I've been away!

I uploaded this one because I thought it would be of interest to see the diverse size range of the Messor Barbarus species. They are just drinking water - I like how they all come together and drink, rather sociable :)

    comments (3)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Welcome back, Stuart! Very creative and interesting scene. Are there different ant "classes' in this shot, given the big difference in size? Posted 8 years ago
    1. View Stuart's profile
      Stuart
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thanks Ferdy! Hope you are keeping well?
      All the ants are workers, no soldier caste with this species but the workers do have a massive difference in size between them. There are 3 classes,

      'media' which are the smallest and do things like laying scent trails,

      'minor' which carry seeds up to a certain size

      'major' which are the heavy lifters, these are the one that use their powerful mandibles to crack open seed cases too.

      Of course all the classes lay scent trails but from what I've read, it's primerily the media ants that do that from an energy saving point of view.       Posted 8 years ago, modified 8 years ago
      1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
        Ferdy Christant
        Lion
        View Lion class
        I am fine, Stuart, thanks for asking. Interesting to learn that a caste is build up of classes, sounds like a video game :) Posted 8 years ago

Sign in or Join in order to comment.

The Messor barbarus

''Messor barbarus'' is a species of harvester ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae.

Info 10 0
Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants
Species identified by Stuart
View Stuart's profile

By Stuart

All rights reserved
Uploaded Apr 23, 2017. Captured Apr 23, 2017 23:00.
country flag of United Kingdom Explore United Kingdom 3,303 1,262 0
  • Canon EOS 600D
  • f/10.0
  • 1/197s
  • ISO400
  • 60mm