An Ophiocordyceps fungus sprouts from a Camponotus carpenter ant.

Armenia, Belize
A vinegar fly (Drosophilidae) circles in to land on a shelf fungus. 

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
Ants killed by fungi are often found stuck to the underside of leaves near the forest floor. There, the humidity is optimal for fungal growth.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
In the Amazonian forest, this Camponotus femoratus ant has been killed and its tissues replaced by an aggressive Ophiocordyceps fungus.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Acromyrmex echinatior worker in the fungus garden.

Panama; Laboratory Colony at the University of Wisconsin at Madison
The orange balls in the Reticulitermes nest are a fungus that assumes the size, texture, and chemical signature of termite eggs. Termites, being blind, can't tell the difference and care for the fungus as if they were their own eggs. 

Bell Smith Springs, Illinois, USA
A newborn termite hatches into a mix of fungal egg-mimics and termite eggs.

Bell Smith Springs, Illinois, USA
The orange balls in the Reticulitermes nest are a fungus that assumes the size, texture, and chemical signature of termite eggs. Termites, being blind, can't tell the difference and care for the fungus as if they were their own eggs. 

Bell Smith Springs, Illinois, USA
Cyphomyrmex wheeleri is the most temperate of the Cyphomyrmex species, occurring as far north as San Francisco, California.  Here worker ants tend to their fungus garden.

Austin, Texas, USA
Cyphomyrmex wheeleri is the most temperate of the Cyphomyrmex species, occurring as far north as San Francisco, California. Here worker ants tend to their fungus garden.

Austin, Texas, USA
Cyphomyrmex wheeleri is the most temperate of the Cyphomyrmex species, occurring as far north as San Francisco, California.  Here worker ants tend to their fungus garden.

Austin, Texas, USA
Cyphomyrmex wheeleri is the most temperate of the Cyphomyrmex species, occurring as far north as San Francisco, California. Here worker ants tend to their fungus garden.

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