Aphaenogaster cockerelli, one of the most conspicuous harvester ants of American southwest, carries a mesquite seed back to her nest.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Aphaenogaster cockerelli, guarding the nest.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa and Aphaenogaster albisetosa workers, fighting.  Resources are scarce in the desert and competition among ants is fierce, leading to frequent conflicts.

Green Valley, Arizona, USA
Aphaenogaster albisetosa harvester ants carry a seed back to their nest.

Portal, Arizona, USA
The mass emergence of termites at the start of monsoon season is a bonanza for ants.  Here an Aphaenogaster albisetosa harvester ant adds another captured termite carcass to the food pile.

Peña Blanca Lake, Arizona, USA
Harvester ants (Aphaenogaster cockerelli) tear apart a queen leafcutter ant (Acromyrmex versicolor) they have caught after a leafcutter mating flight.  Ants won't often eat members of their own species, but they will happily consume ants of other species.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa and Aphaenogaster albisetosa workers, fighting.  Resources are scarce in the desert and competition among ants is fierce, leading to frequent conflicts.

Green Valley, Arizona, USA
Aphaenogaster cockerelli, one of the most conspicuous harvester ants of American southwest, carries a mesquite seed back to her nest.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Aphaenogaster albisetosa harvester ants carry a seed back to their nest.

Portal, Arizona, USA
Aphaenogaster albisetosa harvester ants carry a seed back to their nest.

Portal, Arizona, USA
Aphaenogaster albisetosa harvester ants carry a seed back to their nest.

Portal, Arizona, USA
Aphaenogaster albisetosa harvester ants carry a seed back to their nest.

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