keyword pages:  1  2  3  4  >  
< 1 of 28 >
Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants. Here, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Sonoran desert cacti are frequently covered in ants. Cacti provide ants with nectar- a ready food supply in a harsh environment- in exchange for protection from herbivorous insects. Here, two Crematogaster opuntiae acrobat ants exchange nectar they have gathered from a chain-link cholla. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex badius, the Florida harvester ant Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Pogonomyrmex badius, the Florida harvester ant Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
The swollen thorns of this Panamanian Acacia tree house a colony of fierce Pseudomyrmex spinicola ants. Chiriqui, Panama
Crematogaster opuntiae gathering nectar from a cholla cactus. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants. Here, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants. Here, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Pogonomyrmex badius, the Florida harvester ant Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants.

Here, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants. Here, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants.

Here, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
See photo in original gallery.
keyword pages:  1  2  3  4  >  
< 1 of 28 >
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013