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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
In a small chamber in the heart of a Cecropia sapling, a young Azteca alfari queen hunkers down to start a new ant colony. Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
The brood nest of the ant-plant ant Azteca is a mix of ant larvae (the larger grubs) and Beltian food bodies (the smaller ovoids). The Cecropia tree housing the ants also produces Beltian bodies as nourishment to the larvae. Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Azteca alfari worker ant guarding her Cecropia host tree. Gamboa, Panama
The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants. Gamboa, Panama
The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants. Here, a worker carries a larva to safety after the photographer disturbs the nest. Note the mealybugs at lower-left, which the ants tend for honeydew. Gamboa, Panama Gamboa, Panama
The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants. Here, a worker drags a larva to safety after the photographer disturbs the nest. Gamboa, Panama
Azteca alfari Cecropia ants guard their tree zealously against intruders. Working together, they surround and immobilize their opponents such as this trap-jaw ant by pinning down their appendages. Gamboa, Panama
The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants. Here, a worker walks across a pile of maturing pupae. Gamboa, Panama
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
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
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
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013