Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ants have killed a trap-jaw ant and are cooperating to carry it up a tree branch to their nest. Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography

Ants Fighting

Images of conflict among ant societies.

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The worst enemies of ants are often other ants. Here, a Rhytidoponera victoriae scout (at left) has discovered an Stigmatomma ferruginea worker and attempts to wrestle it back to her nest. If successful, she will kill the Stigmatomma and feed her to the larvae. Stigmatomma is too specialized as an underground predator to be good at general fighting, so is at a disadvantage here.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia

Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ants have killed a trap-jaw ant and are cooperating to carry it up a tree branch to their nest.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

An Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) attacks a much larger fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Both species co-exist naturally in subtropical South America, but in the southern United States where both have been accidentally introduced, the fire ant has displaced the Argentine ants.

Austin, Texas, USA

The happenings of the insect world play out mostly unnoticed by people. Here, two colonies of Tetramorium pavement ants battle for territory along the shores of a midwestern reservoir.

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Illinois, USA

Tetramorium pavement ants fight to determine the territorial boundary between two colonies. These fights are a regular feature of the biology of this species, often conspicuously staged on sidewalks and other places where this species occurs.

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Illinois, USA

Azteca alfari Cecropia ants guard their tree zealously against intruders. Working together, they surround and immobilize their opponents such as this trap-jaw ant by pinning down their appendages.

Gamboa, Panama

A large Podomyrma gratiosa tree ant attacks a column of smaller Crematogaster workers that pass too close to her nest. The Crematogaster fight back, and even though the large size and heavy armor of the Podomyrma allow it a one-on-one advantage, the superior numbers of Crematogaster give the smaller ants the edge in this fight.

Naracoorte, South Australia

Harvester ants (Aphaenogaster cockerelli) tear apart a queen leafcutter ant (Acromyrmex versicolor) they have caught after a leafcutter mating flight. Ants won't often eat members of their own species, but they will happily consume ants of other species.

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ants have killed a trap-jaw ant and are cooperating to carry it up a tree branch to their nest.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

Canon EOS 7D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 5184x3438 |

Current: 800x531 |

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Keywords: cooperation oecophylla weaver ants green tree ants social insects ants scavenging

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Ants Fighting

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