Oecophylla longinoda, the tailor ant, is fiercely territorial.  Here they have pinned down a Polyrhachis intruder that has stumbled onto their tree.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Azteca alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped.

Gamboa, Panama
Oecophylla longinoda, the tailor ant, is fiercely territorial.  Here they have pinned down a Polyrhachis intruder that has stumbled onto their tree.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Oecophylla longinoda, the tailor ant, is fiercely territorial.  Here they have pinned down a Polyrhachis intruder that has stumbled onto their tree.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Azteca alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped.

Gamboa, Panama
Azteca alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped.

Gamboa, Panama
Oecophylla longinoda workers cooperate to bring an ant they have killed back to their nest.  Ants don't normally eat members of their own species, but they will readily consume members of other species.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Oecophylla longinoda ants hold fast to a Polyrhachis worker that has intruded on their territory.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Oecophylla longinoda, the tailor ant, is fiercely territorial.  Here they have pinned down a Polyrhachis intruder that has stumbled onto their tree.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Azteca alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped.

Gamboa, Panama
Azteca alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped.

Gamboa, Panama
Azteca alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped.

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