Flavia Esteves (Universidade de São Paulo) breaks up rainforest soil to look for rare species at Ant Course 2012 in Uganda.
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis workers carrying sand excavated from deep in the nest.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis worker carrying sand excavated from deep in the nest.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Atta texana workers removing soil from an excavation deep in the nest.

Austin, Texas, USA
A young Azteca isthmica queen cuts into the soft tissue of a Cecropia tree to gain access to the hollow center.  The trees welcome such an intrusion: the resident Azteca colony founded by this queen will provide ample protection from herbivores.

Coclé, Panama
A young Azteca isthmica queen cuts into the soft tissue of a Cecropia tree to gain access to the hollow center.  The trees welcome such an intrusion: the resident Azteca colony founded by this queen will provide ample protection from herbivores.

Coclé, Panama
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis worker carrying sand excavated from deep in the nest.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis workers carrying sand excavated from deep in the nest.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Pogonomyrmex badius, the Florida harvester ant.  Here, nest maintenance workers are busy removing soil they have excavated from deep in the nest.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Flavia Esteves (Universidade de São Paulo) breaks up rainforest soil to look for rare species at Ant Course 2012 in Uganda.
Flavia Esteves (Universidade de São Paulo) breaks up rainforest soil to look for rare species at Ant Course 2012 in Uganda.
Flavia Esteves (Universidade de São Paulo) breaks up rainforest soil to look for rare species at Ant Course 2012 in Uganda.
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013