The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth.  Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants.  Note the cleared foraging trail leading away from the nest in the foreground.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth.  Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
Ventillation tunnels on a mound of the chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth.  Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth.  Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants.  Note the cleared foraging trail leading away from the nest in the foreground.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth.  Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants.  Note the cleared foraging trail leading away from the nest in the foreground.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth.  Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants.  Note the cleared foraging trail leading away from the nest in the foreground.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth.  Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
Ventillation tunnels on a mound of the chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth. Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants. Note the cleared foraging trail leading away from the nest in the foreground.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth.  Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants.  Note the cleared foraging trail leading away from the nest in the foreground.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth. Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants. Note the cleared foraging trail leading away from the nest in the foreground.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013