A droplet of morning dew on the head of a cactus bug, Chelinidea vittiger (Coreidae).

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Solenopsis invicta

Austin, Texas, USA
Pheidole obscurithorax is a South American native that has been introduced to the U.S. gulf coast. 

Pensacola, Florida, USA
Pheidole obscurithorax

Pensacola, Florida, USA
Odontomachus meinerti, with mandibles locked into the "ready-to-fire" position, trigger hairs pointing forward.

Misiones, Argentina
Odontomachus assiniensis.  The odd, alien-shaped head of a trap-jaw ant serves to house the set of muscles and latches that operate the ant's mandibular trap.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Atta cephalotes, close-up of the head of a soldier.  The sharp mandibles of this ant can easily slice through skin, so handle these ants with care!

Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences
Atta cephalotes, close-up of the head of a soldier.  The sharp mandibles of this ant can easily slice through skin, so handle these ants with care!

Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences
Atta cephalotes, close-up of the head of a soldier.  The sharp mandibles of this ant can easily slice through skin, so handle these ants with care!

Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences
A droplet of morning dew on the head of a cactus bug, Chelinidea vittiger (Coreidae).

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
A droplet of morning dew on the head of a cactus bug, Chelinidea vittiger (Coreidae).

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
A droplet of morning dew on the head of a cactus bug, Chelinidea vittiger (Coreidae).

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013