Amazing!

Long-legged Black Ant
Aphaenogaster cockerelli

ARIZONA, Pima County
Catalina State Park
2 August 1997
Collected by Steve Prchal in the Group Picnic Area during the Invertebrates in Captivity Conference picnic.

In some ant species, a worker ant communicates where food is by marking her path on the ground (or tree) back to the colony with a chemical trail so that other workers can find their way to the food.

Because these ants are large, they can often carry an insect home independently. When food is too big for a single ant to carry, the worker releases a chemical into the air that attracts additional foragers from up to two meters away.
In addition, to enhance the chemical alert, the worker will make noise with its body (called stridulation) which will intensify the response of her sisters to quickly arrive at the food source and transport it back to the colony.


TheArtists
Original Photography
Charles A. Hedgcock
gelatin silver photographs		 Base Structure Fabrication
Philip Joachim
welded steel
Photo Illustration
Michael Mayer
digital high resolution output		 Ant Habitat Research, Development and Construction
Steve Prchal
ants, plastics, gypsum cement, metals


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