Myrmecocystus mimicus worker leaving the nest to forage. Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography - Insect Pictures

Ants of the North American Deserts

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A nest of Messor pergandei.

Mojave National Preserve, California, USA

The distinctive nest entrance of the nocturnal honeypot ant Myrmecocystus mexicanus.

Huachuca mountains, Arizona, USA

Myrmecocystus honeypot ant species come in three basic color patterns, depending on the time of day that they forage. The orange/yellow species such as this M. navajo are nocturnal. These ants were photographed leaving their nest entrance to forage shortly after dusk.

Willcox, Arizona, USA

Myrmecocystus tenuinodis, a small honeypot species that lives in sand dunes and is active in the mornings.

Mojave National Preserve, California, USA

Myrmecocystus mimicus worker leaving the nest to forage.

Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA

Myrmecocystus mexicanus. Honeypot ants have an unusual food storage system. Some members of each colony act as living receptacles known as "repletes", these ants become engorged with food and hang from the ceilings of chambers deep underground.

Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences

Myrmecocystus mendax honeypot ant, with pupae.

Chiricahua mountains, Arizona, USA

Army ant males are most commonly seen at night. They sometimes end up at lights as they disperse on wing from their natal colonies. This army ant, Neivamyrmex swainsonii, is a broadly-distributed species found from the southern United States to northern Argentina.

Peña Blanca Lake, Arizona, USA

A raiding column of Neivamyrmex nigrescens.

Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, USA

Myrmecocystus mimicus worker leaving the nest to forage.

Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA

Myrmecocystus mimicus worker leaving the nest to forage.

Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA

Myrmecocystus mimicus worker leaving the nest to forage.

Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA

Canon EOS 50D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 4340x2964 |

Current: 800x547 |

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Keywords: desert bugs ants arizona insect alert insects hymenoptera ecology formicidae formicinae honeypot ants worker ant honeypots guard ant foraging ant desert ants myrmecocystus mimicus

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