Paratrechina longicornis - black crazy ant.  Along a sun-soaked beach on a Panamanian island, ants drink from nectaries on the underside of a leaf.  Many plants attract ants with nectaries, and the ants in return help remove the plant's herbivorous pests.

Isla Contadora, Panama
Paratrechina longicornis - black crazy ant.  Along a sun-soaked beach on a Panamanian island, ants drink from nectaries on the underside of a leaf.  Many plants attract ants with nectaries, and the ants in return help remove the plant's herbivorous pests.

Isla Contadora, Panama
Paratrechina longicornis nestmate workers, their social stomachs engorged with sugar water.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Tetramorium simillimum is a small species, native to Africa, that is now common in tropical regions worldwide.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Solenopsis invicta

Austin, Texas, USA
Solenopsis invicta

Austin, Texas, USA
Solenopsis invicta, young alate queen in the nest.

Austin, Texas, USA
Solenopsis invicta fire ant

Austin, Texas, USA
A series of fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) nests along a curb.

Austin, Texas, USA
Paratrechina longicornis nestmate workers, their social stomachs engorged with sugar water.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Paratrechina longicornis nestmate workers, their social stomachs engorged with sugar water.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Paratrechina longicornis nestmate workers, their social stomachs engorged with sugar water.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013