Colobopsis explodens is a species of ant which is found in Southeast Asia. It is noted for a rare combat mechanism of workers exploding in self-defense, smothering the enemy with toxic and often deadly secretion.[1]
Defenses
Scheme of a worker ant's anatomyColobopsis explodens pupa
The species was formerly known informally as "yellow goo", named after the brightly colored gunk produced by its exploding worker ants.[2]
Territory
Their colonies can contain thousands of individual ants and inhabit the leafy canopies of trees that stand as tall as 197 feet (60 meters) and cover an area of at least 26,900 square feet (2,500 square meters).[2]
Gallery
Head of Colobopsis explodens worker
Colobopsis explodens worker
Colobopsis explodens worker. (a) vertex of major worker (paratype), (b) gastral tergite I, (c) gastral tergite IV of minor worker (holotype), (d) labels of holotype, minor worker
Colobopsis explodens male reproductive system and genitals. (a) dorsal, (b) ventral (c) lateral view, (d) left penis valve, (e) right volsella and gonostylus