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Wildlife Spotting

Photo by chesterbperry
Published on Project Noah
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34.9973, -85.1823

Field Notes

Description:

Red ants bringing home the bacon.

Habitat:

Mixed forest

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
chesterbperry
Thank you for trying gatorfellows, I will have to wade through that information later, maybe tomorrow I can get a better picture.
gatorfellows
All i could find was a species list for TN that had good photos and information; http://mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu/Researchtaxapages/Formicidaepages/faunal.lists/Tennessee.Ants.htm
gatorfellows
They feed on a fungus that grows on the leaf scraps. The slotted wide holes in funnel mounds is looks like leaf cutters. I mistook this information and did not realize they were working on taking a worm into the hole. I removed my suggestion. Will try to find you a reference for the red ants in TN that match better.
chesterbperry
I observed none of them carrying leaf fragments, only the ones in the picture dragging an earthworm back to their mound. Do leaf-cutters also scavenge for remains to feed on? The wicki page says the adults feed on tree sap?
gatorfellows
The wiki reference tells you the difference in the anatomical exoskeletons of the two species. I was not able to determine which one from the photo:)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Nests, hives, bowers, webs & other animal architecture
Mission
Biodiversity of SouthEastern US
Mission
Insects of TN
Photographed
PublishedAugust 1, 2012

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