A nest of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta).

Paynes Prairie Reserve, Florida, USA
A nest of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta).

Paynes Prairie Reserve, Florida, USA
This African Monomorium nests in the hollow center of dead twigs.

Kibale forest, Uganda
This African Monomorium nests in the hollow center of dead twigs.

Kibale forest, Uganda
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
Carton nests of Azteca ants in the crown of a tropical tree. 

Napo, Ecuador
Carton nests of Azteca ants in the crown of a tropical tree. 

Napo, Ecuador
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
Queen ants are the fertile females in the nest specialized for reproduction.  In some ant species, such as the little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata, queens are much larger than the sterile workers.

Gamboa, Panama
A nest of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta).

Paynes Prairie Reserve, Florida, USA
A nest of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta).

Paynes Prairie Reserve, Florida, USA
A nest of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta).

Paynes Prairie Reserve, Florida, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013