The hunting behavior of the African ponerine ant Pachycondyla pachyderma

▶ Pachycondyla pachyderma workers are semi-specialized predators of centipedes. ▶ They seize these tubular-shaped prey by the anterior-most quarter of their body. ▶ The workers wrap themselves around the anterior part of large scolopendromorphs' body. ▶ In all cases, they sting the prey ventrally, where the neural chain passes. ▶ Alternative prey such as termites are accepted; stinging is facultative.