A colony of thief ants (Solenopsis carolinensis) nesting in rotting pine bark buried in the soil of a longleaf pine savanna. The large individual is a queen.

Gaineseville, Florida, USA
A colony of thief ants (Solenopsis carolinensis) nesting in rotting pine bark buried in the soil of a longleaf pine savanna. The large individual is a queen.

Gaineseville, Florida, USA
A queen Atta texana Texas leafcutter ant sits amid her much smaller daughters in the fungus garden.

Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
A Mischocyttarus paper wasp nest.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Mischocyttarus paper wasps.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
A queen carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) inside the nest.

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
Queen ants can usually be distinguished from workers on the basis of their larger size and more complex thoracic structure. (Cerapachys (antennatus-group) species)

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Proatta butteli queen and worker

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Queen ants can usually be distinguished from workers on the basis of their larger size and more complex thoracic structure. (Cerapachys (antennatus-group) species)

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Queen ants can usually be distinguished from workers on the basis of their larger size and more complex thoracic structure. (Cerapachys (antennatus-group) species)

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Queen ants can usually be distinguished from workers on the basis of their larger size and more complex thoracic structure. (Cerapachys (antennatus-group) species)

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Queen ants can usually be distinguished from workers on the basis of their larger size and more complex thoracic structure. (Cerapachys (antennatus-group) species)

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013