To Be an Ant: Hard Labor

After the two worker ants (Monomorium minimum) I showed you in the last post had left with their finding, another Little Black Ant came along and started tugging on a dead worm.

Look how he's rearing back, pulling with all his little might!

Now he's got to get the worm over that dried stem husk; he has to pull it with only his mandibles. 

Now he's got a better angle and can use his legs. 

He was able to clear the first obstacle but now the worm's stuck again. It will require a lot of effort to move the worm from this spot.

After much yanking, he's on his way again.

You see he's having to get a footing with his back legs on that leaf while pulling the worm.

He's found a footing, and with that, more leverage. 

Going up...

This turned out to be one of the best shots: you can see the 2 nodes, the legs, the mandibles, the antennae, even the hairs on his abdomen! It's cool how he can cling to the leaf upside down and manage to pull the worm along.

Another good shot, showing the bowing of the ant's body as he pulls.