Pheidole minor workers spread-eagle a Tetramorium (aculeatum - group) forager that has strayed into their territory.

Kibale forest, Uganda
Pheidole minor workers spread-eagle a Tetramorium (aculeatum - group) forager that has strayed into their territory.

Kibale forest, Uganda
Pheidole minor workers spread-eagle a Tetramorium (aculeatum - group) forager that has strayed into their territory.

Kibale forest, Uganda
Camponotus textor workers from different colonies fight at a territorial boundary.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Linepithema iniquum workers from different colonies fighting.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Linepithema iniquum workers from different colonies fighting.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Stigmatomma ferruginea (left) & Rhytidoponera victoriae, fighting.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
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
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
Linepithema iniquum workers from different colonies fighting.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Linepithema iniquum workers from different colonies fighting.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Linepithema iniquum workers from different colonies fighting.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013