Breaking open a twig reveals a nest of turtle ants, Cephalotes porrasi.

Armenia, Belize
Cephalotes spinosus

Misahuallí, Napo, Ecuador
Trophallaxis between two Cephalotes atratus nestmates.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
A minor worker of the strikingly-colored Cephalotes umbraculatus drinks from a water droplet.

Archidona, Napo, Ecuador
Cephalotes varians turtle ant soldier emerging from the nest.

Florida Keys, USA
Cephalotes varians soldier showing the head disc used to plug nest entrances.

Florida Keys, USA
Cephalotes varians

Florida Keys, USA
Procryptocerus mayri

Venezuela
Procryptocerus mayri

Venezuela
Breaking open a twig reveals a nest of turtle ants, Cephalotes porrasi.

Armenia, Belize
Breaking open a twig reveals a nest of turtle ants, Cephalotes porrasi.

Armenia, Belize
Breaking open a twig reveals a nest of turtle ants, Cephalotes porrasi.

Armenia, Belize
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013