Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Pogonomyrmex californicus with a parasitic worm bursting out of its gaster

pogonomyrmex pogonomyrmex californicus parasitic worm parasite

  • Please log in to reply
10 replies to this topic

#1 Offline dspdrew - Posted April 26 2014 - 7:16 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Anhzor found this sometime last year and kept it. He recently gave it to me to put on my microscope, so here's the disturbing images. :bad:
 
gallery_2_137_68373.jpg
 
gallery_2_137_18161.jpg
 
gallery_2_137_81084.jpg
 
gallery_2_137_71041.jpg



#2 Offline jimbodw07 - Posted April 27 2014 - 11:03 PM

jimbodw07

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 66 posts
  • LocationHigh Desert, CA

Amazing images! But still, what a horrible way to die!


There are two kinds of sufferers in this world:
Those who suffer from a lack of life...and those who suffer 
from an overabundance of life.
-Waking Life

#3 Offline noctilus - Posted April 28 2014 - 10:56 AM

noctilus

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 1 posts
Fascinating! Do you have an idea what exactly that worm might be?
Great pictures, BTW :)

#4 Offline dspdrew - Posted April 28 2014 - 12:40 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Thanks. I guess it's most likely a Mermithid nematode.



#5 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted July 26 2014 - 1:21 AM

Gregory2455

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,286 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

That thing probably spreads like a plague in colonies. Was that a worker from a captive colony? Or was it caught out of the wild?



#6 Offline Anhzor - Posted July 26 2014 - 8:18 AM

Anhzor

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 112 posts

I found this guy digging up a nest in my backyard around winter of 2013 to early spring of this year.



#7 Offline Mercutia - Posted July 26 2014 - 8:46 AM

Mercutia

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 621 posts
  • LocationToronto, Canada

Nematode for sure. I remember having to identify them in my Diversity of Organisms university class. And that's when they were still alive and wriggling. Ewwww.



#8 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted July 27 2014 - 12:34 PM

Gregory2455

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,286 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

I had some of these burst out of a couple tadpoles I was keeping a little while back...



#9 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted July 27 2014 - 12:36 PM

Gregory2455

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,286 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

I found this guy digging up a nest in my backyard around winter of 2013 to early spring of this year.

You have Pogonomyrmex in your backyard? Lucky. Best I could find in mine was at max Solenopsis molesta, and a tiny Nylanderia sp.



#10 Offline Anhzor - Posted July 27 2014 - 1:01 PM

Anhzor

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 112 posts
I have accidently dug up point Pogonomyrmex queen beforeby accident

#11 Offline dspdrew - Posted July 27 2014 - 2:57 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

You have Pogonomyrmex in your backyard? Lucky. Best I could find in mine was at max Solenopsis molesta, and a tiny Nylanderia sp.


Haha, he lives in the middle of the city too. :wtf:







Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: pogonomyrmex, pogonomyrmex californicus, parasitic worm, parasite

1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users