A nest of the miniature predator Pyramica rostrata in an Illinois forest.  Notice how the ants have enclosed their space by building a circular wall around the colony.

Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA
Strumigenys rostrata workers with larvae in the brood nest.

Vermillion River Observatory, Illinois, USA
Strumigenys membranifera is a cryptic ant from the old world tropics that has spread across the globe with human trade.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Strumigenys membranifera is a cryptic ant from the old world tropics that has spread across the globe with human trade.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Strumigenys eggersi

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Strumigenys eggersi worker foraging through the leaf litter.

Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Miniature predatory ants (Strumigenys rostrata) tend to larvae in the brood nest.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Strumigenys rostrata carrying a pupa.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Strumigenys rostrata

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Strumigenys membranifera is a cryptic ant from the old world tropics that has spread across the globe with human trade.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Strumigenys membranifera is a cryptic ant from the old world tropics that has spread across the globe with human trade.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
Strumigenys membranifera is a cryptic ant from the old world tropics that has spread across the globe with human trade.

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