Arboreal Ants Use the “Velcro® Principle” to Capture Very Large Prey
Figure 5
Capture of locust nymphs from four size classes on Cecropia obtusa, C. palmata and Vismia latifolia.
The tests consisted in dropping 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 2.5 cm and 3.5-cm-long nymphs of the locust species Tropidacris collaris onto the upper surface of C. obtusa, C. palmata or V. latifolia leaves where groups of 12–15 A. andreae workers were hunting. These prey were dropped from ca. 5 cm in height at ca. 2.5 cm from the leaf margins.