Cyphomyrmex rimosus carrying caterpillar frass back to the nest where it will be fed to the colony's fungus garden.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
Cyphomyrmex rimosus carrying caterpillar frass back to the nest where it will be fed to the colony's fungus garden.

Gainesville, Florida, USA
An Apterostigma forager carries a bit of debris back to her nest.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
An Apterostigma forager carries a bit of debris back to her nest.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
An Apterostigma forager carries a bit of debris back to her nest.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
An ambitious Cyphomyrmex forager carries a piece of insect frass back to the nest. These ants feed exclusively on a fungus that grows on the bits of detritus they gather.

Mindo, Ecuador
Atta cephalotes leafcutter ants.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
An ambitious Cyphomyrmex forager carries a piece of insect frass back to the nest. These ants feed exclusively on a fungus that grows on the bits of detritus they gather.

Mindo, Ecuador
A Myrmicocrypta nest in the Ecuadorian rain forest is marked by an intricate pile of excavated soil.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
A Myrmicocrypta nest in the Ecuadorian rain forest is marked by an intricate pile of excavated soil.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
A Myrmicocrypta nest in the Ecuadorian rain forest is marked by an intricate pile of excavated soil.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
A Myrmicocrypta nest in the Ecuadorian rain forest is marked by an intricate pile of excavated soil.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013