Dinoponera longipes
Dinoponera longipes is an ant of the subfamily of Urameisen ( Ponerinae ). The animals are among the largest ants in the world.
Features
The workers of Dinoponera longipes are about three inches long. Thus they can be easily observed in the Insectariums of Zoological Gardens and it made many studies on their behavior and reproduction. Only different Myrmecia and Paraponera species reach a similar size. The occurring on Borneo workers of Camponotus gigas are even slightly larger.
The animals have a well-trained spine. The poison gland produces a potent toxin that acts primarily on the nervous system of insects. The active ingredient Poneratoxin suppresses the excitation in the nerve pathways and paralyzing the victim. The toxin may be effective but also in vertebrates and even humans. The extremely painful sting can in humans fever, cause cold sweats and heart rhythm disorders.
Dissemination
Like the other species of the genus Dinoponera is the kind in the Neotropics, the tropical areas of South America home. Here it lives mainly in the rain forests of the highlands of Peru.
Way of life
The ants live in very small states with about 100 animals in a hill. They usually hunt larger insects. But even small frogs or mice are on the menu. In captivity, the Insectarium of the Cincinnati Zoo, where the 24 -hour ant is held, it was shown that very young mice are hunted themselves. Larger animals they decomposed as carrion with their toothed mandibles, which it uses like a saw.