Unrolling a leaf nest of a small weaver ant Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) robsoni reveals a queen.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
Unrolling a leaf nest of a small weaver ant Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) robsoni reveals a queen.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
Doleromyrma darwiniana queen in the nest. If you look closely, you should be able to see small mites on her body.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Doleromyrma darwiniana queen in the nest. If you look closely, you should be able to see small mites on her body.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Unrolling a leaf nest of a small weaver ant Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) robsoni reveals a queen.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
Brachymyrmex depilis, winged queen.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Myrmecologists often start new laboratory colonies from young mated queens. This Solenopsis molesta thief ant queen was collected after her midsummer mating flight and placed in a standard test tube nest.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
Myrmecologists often start new laboratory colonies from young mated queens. This Solenopsis molesta thief ant queen was collected after her midsummer mating flight and placed in a standard test tube nest.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
Vollenhovia emeryi worker (left) and queen. The larger size and more elaborate thorax distinguish most queens from worker ants.

Washington, DC, USA
Brachymyrmex depilis, winged queen.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Brachymyrmex depilis, winged queen.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Brachymyrmex depilis, winged queen.

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