Polyergus breviceps slave-raiding ant with its Formica argentea host. Notice the difference in mandible shape in the two species- the sharp tines in the slave-raider for fighting, and the broad working mandibles in the host. Sagehen Creek, California, USA - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Images

Social Parasites

Images of ants that make their living off the labors of other species.

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alexwild > Uneasy relationship: a Trachymyrmex fungus-growing ant (left) encounters a Megalomyrmex symmetochus that is a parasite of her nest.

Panama; captive colony at the University of Texas

alexwild > Megalomyrmex symmetochus & Trachymyrmex. Ant nests present a rich concentration of resources for organisms that can get past the ants' defenses. Nests often contain parasites, and one of the more intriguing cases of parasitism in the new world tropics involves another ant species, the parasite Megalomyrmex symmetochus (the smaller ant at center-left). These solenopsidine ants inhabit nests of fungus-growing attine ants and feed on the brood and gardens of their hosts.

Panama; captive colony at the University of Texas

alexwild > Megalomyrmex symmetochus, queen and workers.

Panama; captive colony at the University of Texas

alexwild > A dulotic colony of the slave-raiding ant Polyergus breviceps and its host, the silver field ant Formica argentea.

Champaign, Illinois, USA

alexwild > A queen Polyergus breviceps with a host Formica argentea worker.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA

alexwild > Polyergus breviceps slave-raiding ant with its Formica argentea host. Notice the difference in mandible shape in the two species- the sharp tines in the slave-raider for fighting, and the broad working mandibles in the host.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA

alexwild > Polyergus montivagus

Champaign, Illinois, USA

alexwild > Polyergus montivagus. The sickle-shaped mandibles are ideal for fighting with other ants.

Champaign, Illinois, USA

alexwild > Polyergus sp. nr. breviceps. The ant fauna in North America is still poorly enough studied that dozens of species have yet to receive a formal scientific name. This slave-raiding ant is one of them. It is a parasite of the common field ant Formica subsericea in the midwest.

Champaign, Illinois, USA

Polyergus breviceps slave-raiding ant with its Formica argentea host. Notice the difference in mandible shape in the two species- the sharp tines in the slave-raider for fighting, and the broad working mandibles in the host.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA

Camera: Canon (Canon Eos D60) |

More details: exif |

Original size: 3076px x 2052px |

Current: 400px x 267px |

Other sizes: Small • M • L |

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