Major and minor workers of a subterranean Pheidole species.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Ten centimeters below the soil surface, Pheidole ants tend ground pearls (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) for honeydew. Ground pearls are sap-feeding insects that exude excess sugar attractive to ants, while the ants help transport the young insects to new plants.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Fighting ensues when both Acromyrmex disciger leafcutting ants and Pheidole vafra big-headed ants arrive at a cookie bait. Although the Pheidole won this particular fight, the larger battle went to the leafcutters, and within 20 minutes of taking this photo the Pheidole had vanished.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
When both Acromyrmex disciger leafcutting ants and Pheidole vafra big-headed ants arrive at a cookie bait I placed on the ground, fighting ensues. Although the Pheidole won this particular fight, the larger battle went to the leafcutters, and within 20 minutes of taking this photo the Pheidole had vanished.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Pheidole vafra minor workers cooperate to carry a piece of cookie I used to bait them out of their nest.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
When both Acromyrmex disciger leafcutting ants and Pheidole vafra big-headed ants arrive at a cookie bait I placed on the ground, fighting ensues. Although the Pheidole won this particular fight, the larger battle went to the leafcutters, and within 20 minutes of taking this photo the Pheidole had vanished.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Pheidole obscurithorax stays ahead of the competition using group retrieval of food (in this case, a scavenged cockroach carcass).  Working together, the ants can usually get the bounty home before a more aggressive species usurps their find.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Pheidole obscurithorax stays ahead of the competition using group retrieval of food (in this case, a scavenged cockroach carcass).  Working together, the ants can usually get the bounty home before a more aggressive species usurps their find.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Many Pheidole species are granivores. Here, a minor worker transports a grass seed back to her nest.

Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
Pheidole obscurithorax stays ahead of the competition using group retrieval of food (in this case, a scavenged cockroach carcass). Working together, the ants can usually get the bounty home before a more aggressive species usurps their find.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Pheidole obscurithorax stays ahead of the competition using group retrieval of food (in this case, a scavenged cockroach carcass).  Working together, the ants can usually get the bounty home before a more aggressive species usurps their find.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Pheidole obscurithorax stays ahead of the competition using group retrieval of food (in this case, a scavenged cockroach carcass). Working together, the ants can usually get the bounty home before a more aggressive species usurps their find.

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