Polyergus slave-raiding ant carrying a Formica field ant pupa.

Champaign, Illinois, USA
Formica incerta field ant (left) with a social parasite, the slave-raiding ant Polyergus lucidus.

East Brooklyn, Illinois, USA
Formica incerta field ant (left) with a social parasite, the slave-raiding ant Polyergus lucidus.

East Brooklyn, Illinois, USA
Polyergus slave-raiding ant carrying a Formica field ant pupa.

Champaign, Illinois, USA
A mixed colony of a socially parasitic ant (Dorymyrmex reginicula, brown), and its host (Dorymyrmex elegans, yellow).  Workers of the two species coexist in a single nest for a period after the parasite queen has assumed reproduction and before the last remaining host workers die off. 

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
A mixed colony of Protomognathus americanus (the acorn slave-raiding ant, dark brown) and its host, Temnothorax curvispinosus.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A mixed colony of Protomognathus americanus (the acorn slave-raiding ant, dark brown) and its host, Temnothorax curvispinosus.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Acorn ant workers (Temnothorax curvispinosus) care for brood while the parasites (Protomognathus americanus) sit idly by.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A mixed colony of Protomognathus americanus (the acorn slave-raiding ant, dark brown) and its host, Temnothorax curvispinosus.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A mixed colony of Protomognathus americanus (the acorn slave-raiding ant, dark brown) and its host, Temnothorax curvispinosus.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A mixed colony of Protomognathus americanus (the acorn slave-raiding ant, dark brown) and its host, Temnothorax curvispinosus.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A mixed colony of Protomognathus americanus (the acorn slave-raiding ant, dark brown) and its host, Temnothorax curvispinosus.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013