Follow the leader! Here, Pachycondyla workers engage in "tandem running" behavior, where a leading ant paves the way for a nestmate to follow. Notice the following ant's antennae making tight contact with the abdomen of the lead ant. St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography

Ant communication

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Oecophylla longinoda patrol a tree trunk.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa

Formica obscuripes nestmate workers engaging in trophallaxis, or the social sharing of liquid food.

Wisconsin, USA

Among the most damaging pest ant species is Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant native to South America. This species has been accidentally imported to the southern United States, eastern Australia, China, and elsewhere. Here a worker fire ant is shown in stereotypical defensive posture, her sting extruded, waving a droplet of venom in the air.

Austin, Texas, USA

Her nest disturbed by the photographer, a Solenopsis thief ant worker exudes a droplet of venom on her stinger and waves it in the air. This behavior is known as "gaster-flagging".

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil

Nylanderia sp. recruiting in large numbers to an insect carcass.

Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia

Two nestmates of the odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile) share a granule of sugar.

Champaign, Illinois, USA.

Friend or foe? Two Wasmannia auropunctata meet on a foraging trail and briefly assess each other. Ants from different colonies will attack each other, but these two are nestmates and let each other pass.

Gamboa, Panama

Follow the leader! Here, Pachycondyla workers engage in "tandem running" behavior, where a leading ant paves the way for a nestmate to follow. Notice the following ant's antennae making tight contact with the abdomen of the lead ant.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa

Canon EOS 20D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 3243x2055 |

Current: 800x507 |

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Keywords: trail carrying larva formicidae ponerinae worker ants pachycondyla poneromorph hunting ants subterranean ants trachymesopus tandem running

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Ant communication

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