Dorymyrmex reginicula (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans.  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.  The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Dorymyrmex reginicula (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans.  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.  The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Dorymyrmex reginicula (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans.  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.  The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Dorymyrmex reginicula (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans.  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.  The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
A queen Polyergus breviceps with a host Formica argentea worker.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA
A dulotic colony of the slave-raiding ant Polyergus breviceps and its host, the silver field ant Formica argentea.  

California, USA
Polyergus breviceps slave-raiding ant with its Formica argentea host.  Notice the difference in mandible shape in the two species- the sharp tines in the slave-raider for fighting, and the broad working mandibles in the host.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA
Formica subintegra with a queen pupa they have stolen during an afternoon slave-raid.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A queen Polyergus breviceps with a host Formica argentea worker.

Sagehen Creek, California, USA
Formica subintegra with a queen pupa they have stolen during an afternoon slave-raid.

South Bristol, New York, USA
Formica subintegra with a queen pupa they have stolen during an afternoon slave-raid.

South Bristol, New York, USA
Formica subintegra with a queen pupa they have stolen during an afternoon slave-raid.

South Bristol, New York, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013