Procryptocerus hylaeus, worker (left) and queen.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Procryptocerus hylaeus, worker (left) and queen.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Procryptocerus hylaeus, worker (left) and queen.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Vollenhovia emeryi colonies contain many laying queens. This photograph shows two, with workers and pupae.

Washington, DC, USA
Camponotus pennsylvanicus - eastern black carpenter ant (queen)
Lasius neoniger, queen after her mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A young Stigmacros queen pauses to groom herself while looking for a spot to found a new colony.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
A young Camponotus festinatus queen scales a grass blade to launch herself on a nocturnal mating flight.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Ants that nest in trees often have bizarre adaptations for plugging the entrances to their nests. This Camponotus papago queen has a cork-like head that doubles as a door.

Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA
Ants that nest in trees often have bizarre adaptations for plugging the entrances to their nests. This Camponotus papago queen has a cork-like head that doubles as a door.

Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA
Ants that nest in trees often have bizarre adaptations for plugging the entrances to their nests. This Camponotus papago queen has a cork-like head that doubles as a door.

Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA
Ants that nest in trees often have bizarre adaptations for plugging the entrances to their nests. This Camponotus papago queen has a cork-like head that doubles as a door.

Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013