Young queens of the twig ant Tetraponera mocquerysi actively forage for food early in the life cycle of the colony. Once workers are produced, queens can stay safely in the nest.

Kibale forest, Uganda
Young queens of the twig ant Tetraponera mocquerysi actively forage for food early in the life cycle of the colony. Once workers are produced, queens can stay safely in the nest.

Kibale forest, Uganda
Young queens of the twig ant Tetraponera mocquerysi actively forage for food early in the life cycle of the colony. Once workers are produced, queens can stay safely in the nest.

Kibale forest, Uganda
A young Aphaenogaster picea foundress queen with her first batch of eggs.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A young Lasius foundress queen raises her first crop of workers sealed in an underground chamber. She feeds the developing larvae with reserves from her own body.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A young Aphaenogaster picea foundress queen with her first batch of eggs.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A young Lasius foundress queen raises her first crop of workers sealed in an underground chamber. She feeds the developing larvae with reserves from her own body.

South Bristol, New York, USA
An Azteca foundress queen shows off the powerful mandibles she uses to gain access to the hollow interior of Cecropia stems.

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
Young queens of the twig ant Tetraponera mocquerysi actively forage for food early in the life cycle of the colony. Once workers are produced, queens can stay safely in the nest.

Kibale forest, Uganda
Young queens of the twig ant Tetraponera mocquerysi actively forage for food early in the life cycle of the colony. Once workers are produced, queens can stay safely in the nest.

Kibale forest, Uganda
Young queens of the twig ant Tetraponera mocquerysi actively forage for food early in the life cycle of the colony. Once workers are produced, queens can stay safely in the nest.

Kibale forest, Uganda
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013