February17_2010

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

To find Suchilquitongo, head north on Highway 190 from the City of Oaxaca about 3/4 of an hour and watch for road signs.

Photos - The largest of the pyramids that are partially restored at Suchilquitongo (looking south toward Etla in frame right)

Suchilquitongo was a regional center, (a splinter of Monte Alban) which increased it's power at the expense of the declining Monte Alban. The practice of writing of monumental art spread through out the whole Oaxaca valley area, in fact, a fine example of that is known as Tomb 5, the elaborate mausoleum contains architecture, sculpture, and murals pertaining to Period IIIb in the Valley of Oaxaca sequence found at Suchilquitongo. Elite tombs in the Oaxaca area contain carved panels which recount the geneologies and legitimating rituals of Epiclassic lords.

Photos - Frames left and right: Two more views of the same pyramid as in the above row of photos from different angles - The mound to the left of the pyramid (in frame right) is the lookout I used for frame right in top row.

Center frame: On the steps of the pyramid, a Solenopsis Geminata (Fire Ant) carries a huge chunk of something to take back to its underground nest near the partially restored pyramid.

The workers are classed in two or more different sizes according to their caste - they are typically yellow to red or blackish and have a large head with incurved jaws. There are two segments in the waist (pedicel) between thorax and abdomen and have longer than average legs (longer than the carpenter ants or black ants). They like dry areas mostly but will nest in moist soil underground and will spread out large mounds of waste earth, but will sometimes burrow and nest under rotting logs or under large rocks. Fire ants have a chemical in their sting and bite that feel like a burning sensation.

This species of ant will commonly prey on other insects, gather seeds, poultry, fruit, vegetables and flowers. They are found mostly in the gulf states and Florida but can also be found throughout North America.

Photos - An unassuming mound or two may look just like a hill, but in fact are unrestored pyramids and small buildings. This is what the pyramids look like after a thousand years or so while dirt and erosion gets a foothold and breaks it down to a mole hill.

Click here for more photos of Suchilquitongo for this day.