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Podomyrma gratiosa fighting with Crematogaster. Naracoorte, South Australia
Pogonomyrmex maricopa and Aphaenogaster albisetosa workers, fighting. Resources are scarce in the desert and competition among ants is fierce, leading to frequent conflicts. Green Valley, Arizona, USA
A large Podomyrma gratiosa tree ant attacks a column of smaller Crematogaster workers that pass too close to her nest. The Crematogaster fight back, and even though the large size and heavy armor of the Podomyrma allow it a one-on-one advantage, the superior numbers of Crematogaster give the smaller ants the edge in this fight. Naracoorte, South Australia
Two harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex rugosus) from adjacent nests engaging in ritual warfare, pushing in a display of force but not actually harming each other. It is thought that colonies use these mock battles to gather information about their neighbors. Knowledge about the strength of competing colonies helps ants set territorial borders without loss of life. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Odontomachus chelifer. Ants from different colonies don't normally tolerate each other. Here, a trap-jaw ant dispatches an intruder from a neighboring nest. Aragua, Venezuela
Pogonomyrmex maricopa and Aphaenogaster albisetosa workers, fighting. Resources are scarce in the desert and competition among ants is fierce, leading to frequent conflicts. Green Valley, Arizona, USA
Azteca alfari Cecropia ants guard their tree zealously against intruders. Working together, they surround and immobilize their opponents such as this trap-jaw ant by pinning down their appendages. Gamboa, Panama
Azteca alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped. Gamboa, Panama
An unfortunate Opsithopsis respiciens strobe ant has been discovered in the treetop territory of Oecophylla smaragdina weaver ants and is summarily executed. Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
Podomyrma gratiosa fighting with Crematogaster.

Naracoorte, South Australia
Podomyrma gratiosa fighting with Crematogaster. Naracoorte, South Australia
Podomyrma gratiosa fighting with Crematogaster.

Naracoorte, South Australia
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013