Portrait of a Pheidole vafra major worker. 

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Oxyepoecus reticulatus worker in a rotting log.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Oxyepoecus reticulatus 

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Oxyepoecus reticulatus 

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Major workers of the South American species Pheidole aberrans have an unusually large head even for a Pheidole.

Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Socially parasitic ants are usually discernable by their relatively small queens, as ants that start new colonies by infiltrating existing nests do not need large body reserves.  The queen of Aphaenogaster tennesseensis- a temporary nest-founding parasite of several other woodland Aphaenogaster- is scarcely larger than her own workers.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Tetramorium bicarinatum workers gather nectar from glands of an invasive mallow. Some plants use nectar to attract ants as a defense against herbivorous insects, as ants also eat insect eggs and caterpillars.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Tetramorium bicarinatum is an Asian species that is now found in warmer climates around the world.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Pheidole morrisi minor workers at the nest entrance.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Tetramorium bicarinatum workers gather nectar from glands of an invasive mallow. Some plants use nectar to attract ants as a defense against herbivorous insects, as ants also eat insect eggs and caterpillars.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Tetramorium bicarinatum workers gather nectar from glands of an invasive mallow. Some plants use nectar to attract ants as a defense against herbivorous insects, as ants also eat insect eggs and caterpillars.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Tetramorium bicarinatum workers gather nectar from glands of an invasive mallow. Some plants use nectar to attract ants as a defense against herbivorous insects, as ants also eat insect eggs and caterpillars.

Orlando, Florida, USA
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013