Splitting open a twig reveals Terataner elegans nest.

Kibale forest, Uganda
A young Aphaenogaster picea foundress queen raises her first crop of workers sealed in an underground chamber. She feeds the developing larvae with reserves from her own body.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A young Aphaenogaster picea foundress queen raises her first crop of workers sealed in an underground chamber. She feeds the developing larvae with reserves from her own body.

South Bristol, New York, USA
This Crematgaster colony was nesting under a bamboo sheath. Notice the body of a dead Neoponera among the larvae. Ants routinely consume the scavenged bodies of other species.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Cephalotes pusillus inhabits pre-existing cavities in larger sticks and branches. These spaces are typically carved by larvae of wood-boring beetles.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
A laboratory colony of Strumigenys zeteki.

Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
A queen Atta texana Texas leafcutter ant sits amid her much smaller daughters in the fungus garden.

Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Vollenhovia emeryi colonies contain many laying queens. This photograph shows two, with workers and pupae.

Washington, DC, USA
Weaver ants construct their nests by binding leaves together using larval silk. Although the best known weavers are the old world Oecophylla, several Amazonian species in the tribe Camponotini have converged on the same lifestyle. This nest belongs to a Camponotus species.

Misahuallí, Napo, Ecuador
A queen Atta texana Texas leafcutter ant sits amid her much smaller daughters in the fungus garden.

Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
A queen Atta texana Texas leafcutter ant sits amid her much smaller daughters in the fungus garden.

Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
A queen Atta texana Texas leafcutter ant sits amid her much smaller daughters in the fungus garden.

Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013