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Formica incerta. Ants as earthbound creatures are not ideal pollinators, but they can carry pollen over short distances. Champaign, Illinois, USA
A number of plant species have come to depend on ants to disperse their seeds. To entice the ants, the seeds have a tasty, lipid-rich structure called an elaiosome at one end, and the ants carry the seed along when then take the elaiosome back to their nest. Here, a Formica exsectoides mound ant has found the seeds of leafy spurge, an invasive pest plant whose spread might be facilitated by ants. Wisconsin, USA
A number of plant species have come to depend on ants to disperse their seeds. To entice the ants, the seeds have a tasty, lipid-rich structure called an elaiosome at one end, and the ants carry the seed along when then take the elaiosome back to their nest. Here, Formica exsectoides mound ants have found the seeds of leafy spurge, an invasive pest plant whose spread might be facilitated by the ants. Wisconsin, USA
A Manica bradleyi forager has discovered the carcass of a Formica worker and is taking it back to her nest. Ants often eat the remains of other ant species but will usually avoid consuming those of their own. Nevada County, California, 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 incerta. Ants as earthbound creatures are not ideal pollinators, but they can carry pollen over short distances.

Champaign, Illinois, USA
Formica incerta. Ants as earthbound creatures are not ideal pollinators, but they can carry pollen over short distances. Champaign, Illinois, USA
Formica incerta. Ants as earthbound creatures are not ideal pollinators, but they can carry pollen over short distances.

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