With summer temperatures near 95ºF (36ºC), workers cluster outside the hive in a behavior known as "bearding".
Tetramorium pavement ants fight to determine the territorial boundary between two colonies. These fights are a regular feature of the biology of this species, often conspicuously staged on sidewalks and other places where this species occurs.

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
Tetramorium pavement ants fight to determine the territorial boundary between two colonies. These fights are a regular feature of the biology of this species, often conspicuously staged on sidewalks and other places where this species occurs.

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
Formica argentea (the silver/grey ant) is a frequent host species for the 'slave-raiding' ant Polyergus breviceps (red). Here, I have disturbed a hibernating nest in early spring. The red Polyergus are slow to wake, but their skittish captives are active earlier in the season and come to life.

Sagehen Creek Field Station, California, USA
Dorymyrmex reginicula (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans.  Workers of the two species coexist in a single nest for a period after the parasite queen has assumed reproduction and before the last remaining host workers die off.  The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Dorymyrmex reginicula (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans.  Workers of the two species coexist in a single nest for a period after the parasite queen has assumed reproduction and before the last remaining host workers die off.  The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Dorymyrmex reginicula (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans.  Workers of the two species coexist in a single nest for a period after the parasite queen has assumed reproduction and before the last remaining host workers die off.  The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Dorymyrmex reginicula (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans.  Workers of the two species coexist in a single nest for a period after the parasite queen has assumed reproduction and before the last remaining host workers die off.  The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
An Aphaenogaster treatae worker arranges a spent formicine cocoon around her nest entrance.

Lake Glendale, Illinois, USA
Tetramorium pavement ants fight to determine the territorial boundary between two colonies. These fights are a regular feature of the biology of this species, often conspicuously staged on sidewalks and other places where this species occurs.

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
Tetramorium pavement ants fight to determine the territorial boundary between two colonies. These fights are a regular feature of the biology of this species, often conspicuously staged on sidewalks and other places where this species occurs.

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
Tetramorium pavement ants fight to determine the territorial boundary between two colonies. These fights are a regular feature of the biology of this species, often conspicuously staged on sidewalks and other places where this species occurs.

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013