Pogonomyrmex maricopa harvester ants inspect a mesquite seed.

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
Pogonomyrmex maricopa workers carrying excavated soil from their nest.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa, a harvester ant

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

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa, purportedly the animal with the most venomous sting in North America.

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
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
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
Pogonomyrmex maricopa workers carrying excavated soil from their nest.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa workers carrying excavated soil from their nest.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa workers carrying excavated soil from their nest.

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