Azteca alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped. Gamboa, Panama - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography

Ants Fighting

Images of conflict among ant societies.

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Leafcutter ants don't normally fight with other types of ants, but they can be brutal towards other leafcutters. Here, a trio of Acromyrmex striatus workers team up to kill an Atta saltensis leafcutter that has wandered into their territory.

Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Nomamyrmex army ants are among the few animals that successfully attack leafcutter ant nests. The leafcutters are not without their defenses. Here two Atta workers attack and kill a Nomamyrmex esenbeckii scout, preventing the army ants from discovering the leafcutter's trail.

Gamboa, Panama

Azteca alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped.

Gamboa, Panama

Forelius nigriventris and Solenopsis invicta. A juxtaposition of two very different defensive strategies. The fire ant (at right) brandishes her venom on the tip of her stinger, while the opposing Forelius worker aims hers as a volatile spray.

Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Forelius nigriventris attacking a fire ant worker (Solenopsis invicta).

Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Her nest breached by attacking Forelius nigriventris (at right), a fire ant adopts typical defensive position: stinger raised and exuding a droplet of volatile venom.

Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Forelius nigriventris and Solenopsis invicta. When Forelius gain access to a breach in a fire ant mound, a full-scale ant battle ensues. Here, a fire ant (at left) flicks a droplet of venom towards the Forelius aggressor.

Santiago del Estero, Argentina

A harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex desertorum) wanders too close to a nest of little Forelius mccooki ants, who harass the intruder until she leaves.

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Crematogaster acrobat ants use their stingers in defense, but they don't pierce the integument of their opponents. Rather, the stinger serves as a brush for smearing defensive chemicals on their adversaries. Here, a worker defends a food bait against an intruding Pheidole.

Kibale forest, Uganda

Azteca alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped.

Gamboa, Panama

Canon EOS 20D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 3117x2171 |

Current: 800x557 |

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Ants Fighting

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