Myrmecologists overlook a nest of a soil-dwelling ant, Dorymyrmex bureni. Note the practical footwear for muddy conditions.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
An Ophiocordyceps fungus sprouts from a Camponotus carpenter ant.

Armenia, Belize
Myrmecologists overlook a nest of Dorymyrmex bureni.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Larvae of syrphid flies in the genus Microdon are so odd that they were originally described as molluscs.  The adults are more or less normal-looking flies, but larvae are predators of ant brood, living within the dark galleries of ant nests (in this case, with Linepithema oblongum).

Termas de Reyes, Jujuy, Argentina
Larva of the great copper Lycaena xanthoides.

San Diego Co., California, USA
Eucharitid wasps mating. Insects of this family are parasites of ant brood.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Young house flies (Musca domestica) fill an inflatable structure- the ptilinum- with hemolymph to break free from the hard shell of the puparium. Once free, the ptilinum collapses back into the head.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Young house flies (Musca domestica) fill an inflatable structure- the ptilinum- with hemolymph to break free from the hard shell of the puparium. Once free, the ptilinum collapses back into the head.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Proatta butteli queen and worker

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Larva of the great copper Lycaena xanthoides.

San Diego Co., California, USA
Larva of the great copper Lycaena xanthoides.

San Diego Co., California, USA
Larva of the great copper Lycaena xanthoides.

San Diego Co., California, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013