Tuesday, October 13, 2015
LEAFCUTTER ANTS, VARIOUS LOCATIONS, COSTA RICA
Next to humans, leafcutter ants form the largest and most complex animal societies on Earth. There are 47 species of leaf-chewing ants. In a few years their underground nests can grow to more than 98 ft., with smaller radiating mounds. A large nest can contain 8 million individuals.
The leafcutter ants have four castes: mimims, minors, mediae and majors. The mediae are the generalized foragers that cut the leaves and bring the leaf fragments back to the nest.
The first photo shows the leafcutter ants going up and down a Sura tree, with those going down carrying pieces of leaves. The second photo shows the ants crossing a trail. The last two photos are of a leafcutter ant nest.
The ants cultivate fungus in their nests, feeding it with freshly cut leaves. The fungus is used to feed the ant larvae and the adult ants feed on the leaf sap.
GREEN IBIS, LA SELVA BIOLOGICAL STATION, CHILAMATE, SARAPIQUI, COSTA RICA
The Green Ibis is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 191.
GREAT KISKADEE, SELVA VERDE LODGE, CHILAMATE, SARAPIQUI, COSTA RICA
The Great Kiskadee is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 190.
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