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Dimetropus — What a Catch!
#ant #biology #entomology #insect #lake #mosquito #predator
Published: 2023-07-07 23:29:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 1300; Favourites: 31; Downloads: 0
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Description
A vernal pool has overfilled, spilling some of its contents onto the bare, hard earth heated by the midday sun. A worker ant has happened upon the water's edge. It is a Crematogaster specifically, also known as a St. Valentine's ant because of its heart-shaped abdomen when viewed from above, or a cocktail ant because it holds its abdomen straight up into the air when alarmed. It is a generalist carnivore, taking whatever small insect as food or scavenging dead meat. It is not, however, known for swimming, so upon encountering the film of water, it is induced to turn around. It would, but it sees and feels a wriggling prey item not far from it. Yes, in the water film a mosquito larva is caught, wriggling in vain. The ant seizes the unusual opportunity, forcing its mandibles through the water's surface and clamping them around the prey item.
The ensuing wrestle is a long one, for the mosquito larva, at nearly a centimeter long, is much larger than its predator. Its violent thrashings toss water and the ant around. The ant, however, is the likely victor, so strong for its size, as it pulls the larva out onto the ground to be killed and brought to the colony.
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Based on an interaction I witnessed while on a walk.
