Eupholus weevil (Focus-stacked composite image).
Crematogaster pilosa

Virginia, USA
A herd of lichen-feeding bark lice graze their way across a tree trunk.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
An Orasema ant-parasite wasp (Eucharitidae) lays an egg in a Heliconius leaf. The young hatchling will attempt to hitchhike on a passing ant into the nest, where it will prey on developing larvae.

Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia
An Orasema ant-parasite wasp (Eucharitidae) lays an egg in a Heliconius leaf. The young hatchling will attempt to hitchhike on a passing ant into the nest, where it will prey on developing larvae.

Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia
A Technomyrmex difficilis white-footed ant tends to aphids for honeydew. The aphids gain protection from predators in exchange for their sweet exudates.

Orlando, Florida, USA
A Technomyrmex difficilis white-footed ant tends to aphids for honeydew. The aphids gain protection from predators in exchange for their sweet exudates.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Magicicada periodical cicadas.

Allerton Park, Illinois, USA
Larvae of syrphid flies in the genus Microdon are so odd that they were originally described as molluscs.  The adults are more or less normal-looking flies, but larvae are predators of ant brood, living within the dark galleries of ant nests (in this case, with Linepithema oblongum).

Termas de Reyes, Jujuy, Argentina
Larvae of syrphid flies in the genus Microdon are so odd that they were originally described as molluscs. The adults are more or less normal-looking flies, but larvae are predators of ant brood, living within the dark galleries of ant nests (in this case, with Linepithema oblongum).

Termas de Reyes, Jujuy, Argentina
Larvae of syrphid flies in the genus Microdon are so odd that they were originally described as molluscs.  The adults are more or less normal-looking flies, but larvae are predators of ant brood, living within the dark galleries of ant nests (in this case, with Linepithema oblongum).

Termas de Reyes, Jujuy, Argentina
Larvae of syrphid flies in the genus Microdon are so odd that they were originally described as molluscs. The adults are more or less normal-looking flies, but larvae are predators of ant brood, living within the dark galleries of ant nests (in this case, with Linepithema oblongum).

Termas de Reyes, Jujuy, Argentina
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013