Azteca

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The hollow stem of a Cecropia ant-plant is divided into chambers to house fierce Azteca alfari ants. Inside, the ants raise their brood and tend to mealybugs. 

Gamboa, Panama
Azteca alfari worker ant guarding her Cecropia host tree.

Gamboa, Panama
The carton nest of an Azteca trigona -complex species hangs from a tree branch.

Gamboa, Panama
A young Azteca isthmica queen cuts into the soft tissue of a Cecropia tree to gain access to the hollow center.  The trees welcome such an intrusion: the resident Azteca colony founded by this queen will provide ample protection from herbivores.

Coclé, Panama
A young Azteca isthmica queen cuts into the soft tissue of a Cecropia tree to gain access to the hollow center.  The trees welcome such an intrusion: the resident Azteca colony founded by this queen will provide ample protection from herbivores.

Coclé, Panama
The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants. 

Gamboa, Panama
The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants.  Here, a worker carries a larva to safety after the photographer disturbs the nest.  Note the mealybugs at lower-left, which the ants tend for honeydew.

Gamboa, Panama

Gamboa, Panama
The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants.  Here, a worker drags a larva to safety after the photographer disturbs the nest.

Gamboa, Panama
A young Azteca isthmica queen cuts into the soft tissue of a Cecropia tree to gain access to the hollow center. The trees welcome such an intrusion: the resident Azteca colony founded by this queen will provide ample protection from herbivores.

Coclé, Panama
A young Azteca isthmica queen cuts into the soft tissue of a Cecropia tree to gain access to the hollow center.  The trees welcome such an intrusion: the resident Azteca colony founded by this queen will provide ample protection from herbivores.

Coclé, Panama
A young Azteca isthmica queen cuts into the soft tissue of a Cecropia tree to gain access to the hollow center. The trees welcome such an intrusion: the resident Azteca colony founded by this queen will provide ample protection from herbivores.

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