Argentine ants (Linepithema humile tending scale insects on an orange tree in suburban California.

Davis, California, USA
Sonoran desert cacti are frequently covered in ants.  Cacti provide ants with nectar- a ready food supply in a harsh environment- in exchange for protection from herbivorous insects.  Here, two Crematogaster opuntiae acrobat ants exchange nectar they have gathered from a chain-link cholla.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Crematogaster opuntiae gathering nectar from a cholla cactus.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Uneasy relationship: a Trachymyrmex fungus-growing ant (left) encounters a Megalomyrmex adamsae that is a parasite of her nest.

Panama; captive colony at the University of Texas
Argentine ants (Linepithema humile tending scale insects on an orange tree in suburban California.

Davis, California, USA
Linepithema humile, the Argentine ant, tending a citrus scale insect for honeydew.  

Davis, California, USA
Formica aerata, the California grey field ant, tending aphids on a willow branch.

Hallelujah Junction, California, USA
Sonoran desert cacti are frequently covered in ants.  Cacti provide ants with nectar- a ready food supply in a harsh environment- in exchange for protection from herbivorous insects.  Here, two Crematogaster opuntiae acrobat ants exchange nectar they have gathered from a chain-link cholla.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Sonoran desert cacti are frequently covered in ants.  Cacti provide ants with nectar- a ready food supply in a harsh environment- in exchange for protection from herbivorous insects.  Here, two Crematogaster opuntiae acrobat ants exchange nectar they have gathered from a chain-link cholla.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Crematogaster opuntiae gathering nectar from a cholla cactus.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Crematogaster opuntiae gathering nectar from a cholla cactus.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Crematogaster opuntiae gathering nectar from a cholla cactus.

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