Red-barbed ant (Formica rufibarbis), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This ant is common in mainland Europe, but rare in the UK. The two c

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Red-barbed ant (Formica rufibarbis), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This ant is common in mainland Europe, but rare in the UK. The two compound eyes are seen, one at upper left and part of the other at upper right. The two antennae (the long, thin, sensory structures) are attached to the head between the eyes. Below the antennae are the ant's mouthparts (lower right), including the strong mandibles (one at far right) used to cut up food. Behind the ant's head is its thorax (upper part of its body). One of the ant's six legs is at far left. Ants are social insects that can form colonies of several million individuals.

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Size: 2904px × 2176px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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