Portrait of an Australian acrobat ant.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Crematogaster cerasi tending oleander aphids (Aphis nerii) on milkweed.

Clinton Lake Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
Crematogaster cerasi acrobat ant

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Sonoran desert cacti are frequently covered in ants.  Cacti provide ants with nectar- a ready food supply in a harsh environment- in exchange for protection from herbivorous insects.  Here, two Crematogaster opuntiae acrobat ants exchange nectar they have gathered from a chain-link cholla.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Crematogaster castanea tricolor

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
A basketball-sized carton nest of Crematogaster castanea tricolor in an Acacia tree.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
An arboreal carton nest of Crematogaster castanea tricolor.  This nest is about the size of a softball.  

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Along an arboreal trail in South Africa, Crematogaster castanea tricolor nestmates exchange a bit of food.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Crematogaster opuntiae gathering nectar from a cholla cactus.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Crematogaster cerasi acrobat ant

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Crematogaster cerasi acrobat ant

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Crematogaster cerasi acrobat ant

Urbana, Illinois, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013