Eciton hamatum army ant soldier. This portrait is a composite of 32 photographs taken at different focal depths and stacked to produce an artificially sharp image. 

Armenia, Belize
Eciton hamatum army ant soldier. This portrait is a composite of 32 photographs taken at different focal depths and stacked to produce an artificially sharp image. 

Armenia, Belize
Eciton hamatum army ant soldier. This portrait is a composite of 32 photographs taken at different focal depths and stacked to produce an artificially sharp image. 

Armenia, Belize
An Eciton hamatum soldier stands guard over a column of army ants returning from the front.

Armenia, Belize
Nomamyrmex esenbeckii

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Labidus mars is a compact subterranean army ant. It is not commonly seen, but this apparent rarity may be more due to the ants' underground existence than to actual scarcity.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Labidus mars is a compact subterranean army ant. It is not commonly seen, but this apparent rarity may be more due to the ants' underground existence than to actual scarcity.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Nomamyrmex esenbeckii 

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Nomamyrmex esenbeckii

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Eciton hamatum army ant soldier. This portrait is a composite of 32 photographs taken at different focal depths and stacked to produce an artificially sharp image.

Armenia, Belize
Eciton hamatum army ant soldier. This portrait is a composite of 32 photographs taken at different focal depths and stacked to produce an artificially sharp image. 

Armenia, Belize
Eciton hamatum army ant soldier. This portrait is a composite of 32 photographs taken at different focal depths and stacked to produce an artificially sharp image.

Armenia, Belize
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013