24/05/2024
๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐จ๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ด๐ธ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฎ๐ช (๐๐๐ ๐
๐ฎ๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ญ)โฃ
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A truly rare, large species of Aphaenogaster hailing from Madagascar ๐ฒ๐ฌ. Queens and workers are mainly a dark, glossy red colour with their gasters being fully black ๐คโค๏ธโฃ
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๐.๐ด๐ธ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฎ๐ช is one of the larger ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐จ๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด as queens reach 14-15mm and workers an impressive 12-13mm, not to mention their strinkingly long legs which almost make them look like they are suspended off the ground โ๏ธโฃ
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Colonies in the wild are often found fairly deep underground (1-2m) however their population size rarely exceeds 1500-2000 individuals. Despite this, workers are extremely well adapted to their environment and are considered to be opportunistic ๐ foragers, taking in different food items from insects to seeds as well as extra florar nectars. โฃ
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Interestingly, they maintain a type of mutualistic relationship with a variety of snakes, thatโs right.. ๐! Their deep nests offer perfect shelter for the snakes from predators and the natural elements, in turn, the snakes ward off potential predators that could threaten the ants. Locals will often refer to the snakes as the โ๐๐ง๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซโ.
