Alex Wild

Pheidole dentata

A worker ant gathers a droplet of honeydew from a young aphid. Austin, Texas, USA

Mottled-head Gum-leafhopper - Eurymeloides punctata - with Iridomyrmex bicknelli

An aggregation of immature leafhoppers on Eucalyptus receive attention from an Iridomyrmex ant. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia.

Crematogaster carinata

A tropical acrobat ant approaches an aphid. Ants and aphids are often associated in a symbiotic relationship where the aphid provides excess honeydew to the ants in exchange for protection from predators. Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, Peru.

Apterostigma collare

A peek inside the hanging fungus garden of Apterostigma collare, an agricultural species with the unique habit of farming above ground, on the underside of rainforest leaves. La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica.

Ant Garden

Several species of arboreal plants, including orchids, bromeliads, and cacti, live together in an "ant garden" tended by fierce Azteca ants. The ants construct a carton matrix to house the plants' roots and their own brood. Barton Creek, Cayo District, Belize.

Azteca gnava

Roots of an ant-garden orchid grow into the carton matrix created by Azteca ants. Barton Creek, Cayo District, Belize.

Dolichoderus bispinosus

Ants gather honeydew from scale insects. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, San Antonio, Cayo District, Belize.

Azteca constructor

Splitting open the hollow trunk of a Cecropia tree reveals carton galleries constructed by symbiotic Azteca ants. These galleries are empty, as the colony has moved upwards towards the tips of the branches. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Camponotus sp.

Peeling back a leaf of a myrmecophytic Tillandsia bromeliad reveals a Camponotus ant nest. These arboreal bromeliads often host ants, but do not appear to have a specialized relationship with any particular species. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Myrmecophila sp.

Orchids in the Mesoamerican and Caribbean genus Myrmecophila have hollow stems for housing ants. Orchid collection at Caves Branch Lodge, Armenia, Belize.

Azteca constructor

Trees in the genus Cecropia are protected by colonies of fierce Azteca ants that live in the hollow stems. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Azteca constructor

Trees in the genus Cecropia are protected by colonies of fierce Azteca ants that live in the hollow stems. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Pseudomyrmex peperi

This young acacia ant queen has found a willing partner: a sapling with vacant thorns for her nest and abundant, nutritious beltian bodies to feed her larvae. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Pseudomyrmex peperi

A foundress queen acacia ant forages for beltian bodies on her host plant. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Pseudomyrmex peperi

This young acacia ant queen has found a willing partner: a sapling with vacant thorns for her nest and abundant, nutritious beltian bodies to feed her larvae. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Anoplolepis gracilipes

A yellow crazy ant collects honeydew from sugarcane whiteflies. Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

A few centimeters underground, Solenopsis molesta thief ants tend to ground pearls (Margarodidae) tapped into grass roots. Urbana, Illinois, USA

Pseudomyrmex peperi

Swollen thorn acacia trees pay their ant guardians with nectar. Here, a Pseudomyrmex peperi worker feeds from a nectary. Cayó District, Belize.

Swollen thorn acacia with Pseudomyrmex peperi

Stinging Pseudomyrmex peperi ants guard their host acacia tree. Cayó District, Belize.

Swollen thorn acacia with Pseudomyrmex peperi

Stinging Pseudomyrmex peperi ants guard their host acacia tree. Cayó District, Belize.

Pseudomyrmex peperi

Swollen thorn acacia trees pay their ant guardians with nectar. Here, a Pseudomyrmex peperi worker feeds from a nectary. Cayó District, Belize.

A few centimeters underground, Solenopsis molesta thief ants tend to ground pearls (Margarodidae) tapped into grass roots. Urbana, Illinois, USA

In exchange for protection, swollen-thorn Acacia trees provide Pseudomyrmex ants with food and shelter. Here an ant feeds from a leaf nectary. (Pseudomyrmex spinicola) Chiriqui, Panama

BugShot Belize aspires to teach more than just photographic technique. We also aim to provide a basic foundation in tropical ecology. With a sense of context for the local insects, you'll be able to find and tell fascinating natural history stories. This photo shows a Pseudomyrmex peperi twig ant taking a nutritious food body from a swollen-thorn Acacia tree, a common understory species at Caves Branch. The tree feeds and houses the ants in exchange for protection from the forest's incessant herbivores and aggressive vines. The ant-acacia story is a classic example of a tropical mutualism. If you know to look for it, you'll take some stunning photographs.

Melissotarsus weissi nest in tree bark with symbiotic diaspidid scale insects. Kibale Forest, Uganda

Pseudomyrmex peperi is an obligate Acacia inhabitant that zealously protects its host from intruding herbivores and aggressive vines. Here, workers cut a tendril that touched their tree. Armenia, Belize

Pseudomyrmex peperi is an obligate Acacia inhabitant. Here, a worker gathers a lipid-rich Beltian body from a leaf tip. The plant feeds the ants in exchange for protection from herbivores and competing plants. Armenia, Belize

Melissotarsus weissi

Kibale Forest, Uganda

Pseudomyrmex peperi

Pseudomyrmex peperi is an obligate Acacia inhabitant that zealously protects its host from intruding herbivores and aggressive vines. Here, workers cut a tendril that touched their tree. Armenia, Belize

Pseudomyrmex peperi

Pseudomyrmex peperi is an obligate Acacia inhabitant. Here, a worker gathers a lipid-rich Beltian body from a leaf tip. The plant feeds the ants in exchange for protection from herbivores and competing plants. Armenia, Belize

Pseudomyrmex peperi

Pseudomyrmex peperi is an obligate Acacia inhabitant that zealously protects its host from intruding herbivores and aggressive vines. Here, workers attempt to remove vine that has come into contact with their tree. Armenia, Belize

Azteca sp.

The brood nest of the ant-plant ant Azteca holds a mix of ant larvae (the larger grubs) and Beltian food bodies (the smaller ovoids). Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia

Formica montana tending Publilia treehopper nymphs for honeydew. Lake Forest, Illinois, USA

A scale insect tended by Crematogaster ants. Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Acropyga goeldii

An Acropyga goeldii worker carries a mealybug. Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Formica montana tending Publilia treehopper nymphs for honeydew. Lake Forest, Illinois, USA

Prenolepis imparis

Prenolepis imparis tending aphids for honeydew. Lake Forest, Illinois, USA

Plants of the genus Inga have nectaries on the upper surface of their leaves to attract ants that may remove the plants' herbivores.This one has brought in a Camponotus carpenter ant. Napo, Ecuador

A Linepithema iniquum worker collects honeydew from a flat scale insect. Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador