Acropyga goeldii ants are so dependent on their mealybug associates that young queens must carry a bug with them on their dispersal flights to successfully start a new colony.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Acropyga goeldii ants are so dependent on their mealybug associates that young queens must carry a bug with them on their dispersal flights to successfully start a new colony.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Acropyga goeldii ants are so dependent on their mealybug associates that young queens must carry a bug with them on their dispersal flights to successfully start a new colony.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus citronella ants. Prior to a mating flight, males, queens, and workers gather at the surface. Citronella ants are normally subterranean, and the late summer flights are a rare chance to see them above ground.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus citronella ants. Prior to a mating flight, males, queens, and workers gather at the surface. Citronella ants are normally subterranean, and the late summer flights are a rare chance to see them above ground.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus citronella ants. Prior to a mating flight, males, queens, and workers gather at the surface. Citronella ants are normally subterranean, and the late summer flights are a rare chance to see them above ground.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus citronella ants. Prior to a mating flight, males, queens, and workers gather at the surface. Citronella ants are normally subterranean, and the late summer flights are a rare chance to see them above ground.

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