Pheidole metallescens, minor and major workers. Major workers of some species of Pheidole are repletes, storing large amounts of liquid food in their social stomachs.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Pheidole metallescens, minor and major workers.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
A soldier Cephalotes porrasi turtle ant seals the nest entrance with her head (left), while one of her sisters passes by. Soldiers act as living doors, allowing only members of their own colonies to pass.

Armenia, Belize
A colony of thief ants (Solenopsis carolinensis) nesting in rotting pine bark buried in the soil of a longleaf pine savanna. The large individual is a queen.

Gaineseville, Florida, USA
Solenopsis carolinensis thief ant queen.

Gaineseville, Florida, USA
A colony of thief ants (Solenopsis carolinensis) nesting in rotting pine bark buried in the soil of a longleaf pine savanna. The large individual is a queen.

Gaineseville, Florida, USA
Solenopsis carolinensis thief ant queen.

Gaineseville, Florida, USA
Pheidole cephalica - major worker. This distinctive species is one of Central America's largest Pheidole.

Armenia, Belize
Tapinoma sessile is a polygynous ant species. That is, their nests hold multiple egg-laying queens.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Pheidole metallescens, minor and major workers. Major workers of some species of Pheidole are repletes, storing large amounts of liquid food in their social stomachs.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Pheidole metallescens, minor and major workers. Major workers of some species of Pheidole are repletes, storing large amounts of liquid food in their social stomachs.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Pheidole metallescens, minor and major workers. Major workers of some species of Pheidole are repletes, storing large amounts of liquid food in their social stomachs.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013