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Post by Paul K on Mar 6, 2016 5:23:27 GMT
Oecophylla smaragdina-The weaver ant This species is very common in Southeast Asia. They build nests on the trees constructed from connected live leaves. The larvae is the great delicacy for local people and the ants are use as a pesticide in the orchards as they will kill all leaving insects around their home. The ants have found Carpenter bees Xylocopa latipes nest inside the dry bamboo sticks. This is one of the largest bee of the world but still don't stand a chance against massive ant invasion. As on the picture in the left up corner and right bottom the bees are effectively blocking the whole to their nest with their abdomen. The unfortunate bee was trying to enter the nest but the ants had quickly surround the victim, locked it down and unable to move the bee has been eaten alive. This war has been continued for more then a week and then the ants backed off leaving few lucky bees alive. Perhaps they will return one day to end up their unfinished business . Paul
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Post by ornithorchid on Mar 6, 2016 6:39:40 GMT
You just don't mess around with these ants. They probably put that bee KO in a few minutes. Union and Strength!
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Post by nomad on Mar 6, 2016 7:48:06 GMT
Interesting post . A good job ants and other insects evolved small or they would be eating larger things including us. The march of the colony, great picture. Nice to see a post that mentions other insects.
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Post by africaone on Mar 6, 2016 13:29:27 GMT
In Africa (Cameroon) I bred some species found inside Oecophylla (longinoda species)nest including an Epitola, Hewitsonia danane, three species of Eulyphira and some noctuids moths (2-3 Eublemma species and other genus unindentified). A great time !
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