Nylanderia faisonensis, worker with larvae in the brood nest.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
On a sunny day in mid-February, odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile) move the spring brood up under a sun-warmed rock to speed their development.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Paraparatrechina

Kibale forest, Uganda
A colorful Camponotus worker carries a cocoon to safety when her nest is disturbed by the photographer.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
The brood nest of the ant-plant ant Azteca holds a mix of ant larvae (the larger grubs) and Beltian food bodies (the smaller ovoids).

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Camponotus (Colobopsis) impressus with a pupa. Note the differences in size and shape between major and minor workers.

Laboratory colony at the University of Central Florida, USA
Camponotus (Colobopsis) impressus with a pupa. Note the differences in size and shape between major and minor workers.

Laboratory colony at the University of Central Florida, USA
Her nest disturbed by the photographer, a Polyrhachis (Campomyrma) worker carries a cocoon to safety.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
A pile of Rhytidoponera victoriae pupae in the brood nest. The silken cocoons protect the pupae from desiccation, among other threats.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
A pile of Rhytidoponera victoriae pupae in the brood nest. The silken cocoons protect the pupae from desiccation, among other threats.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
A pile of Rhytidoponera victoriae pupae in the brood nest. The silken cocoons protect the pupae from desiccation, among other threats.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
A pile of Rhytidoponera victoriae pupae in the brood nest. The silken cocoons protect the pupae from desiccation, among other threats.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013