Iridomyrmex purpureus meat ants are aggressive in defense of their colonies. Here, a guard ant attempts to take down the photographer.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Camponotus pennsylvanicus - eastern black carpenter ant
Labidus coecus

Maquipucuna Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
An Eciton burchellii submajor stands guard over a prey cache.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Labidus coecus

Maquipucuna Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Crematogaster cerasi

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Camponotus semitestaceus

Mojave National Preserve, California, USA
Oecophylla smaragdina, the green tree ant of northern Australia.

Cape York Peninsula, Queenland, Australia
Oecophylla smaragdina, the green tree ant of northern Australia.

Cape York Peninsula, Queenland, Australia
Camponotus pennsylvanicus - eastern black carpenter ant
Camponotus pennsylvanicus - eastern black carpenter ant
Camponotus pennsylvanicus - eastern black carpenter ant
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013