Pogonomyrmex rugosus, harvester ant worker cutting grass seeds off the stalk.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa harvester ants inspect a mesquite seed.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex desertorum harvesting seeds from a grass stalk.

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
A busy nest of Pogonomyrmex rugosus harvester ants in urban Tucson.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex rugosus, harvester ant worker cutting grass seeds off the stalk.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex rastratus

Amaicha del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina
Pogonomyrmex maricopa workers carrying excavated soil from their nest.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa, a harvester ant

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa, a harvester ant

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa, a harvester ant

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa, a harvester ant

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