Camponotus pennsylvanicus - eastern black carpenter ant (queen)
Solenopsis invicta - red imported fire ant (queen and workers)
Formica fusca alate female and worker.

South Bristol, New York, USA
A young Myrmica queen searches for a nesting site following her mating flight.

Clinton Lake Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
A young Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus queen climbs vegetation to help launch herself on a mating flight. This species is a social parasite, and following her flight this queen will infiltrate the nest of another Lasius species and attempt to usurp the resident queen.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A Lasius neoniger queen pauses for a rest while she searches for a suitable nesting site after her mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A young Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus queen climbs vegetation to help launch herself on a mating flight. This species is a social parasite, and following her flight this queen will infiltrate the nest of another Lasius species and attempt to usurp the resident queen.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A Lasius neoniger queen pauses for a rest while she searches for a suitable nesting site after her mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A young Myrmica queen searches for a nesting site following her mating flight.

Clinton Lake Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
A young Myrmica queen searches for a nesting site following her mating flight.

Clinton Lake Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
A young Myrmica queen searches for a nesting site following her mating flight.

Clinton Lake Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
A young Myrmica queen searches for a nesting site following her mating flight.

Clinton Lake Recreation Area, Illinois, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013