Cradle Robber

A carpenter ant worker (Camponotus) raids a Pseudmyrmex pupa from an opened nest.

While watching  Pseudomyrmex workers in an opened nest carry brood to safety (see previous post) I noticed one ant that didn’t belong.  Above you can see a carpenter ant worker who has taken advantage of the confusion to steal one of the helpless juveniles.  Although some species of ants practice brood-raiding in order to aquire ‘slave’ ants, this unfortunate Pseudmyrmex pupa will merely make a tasty meal.