Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, the western harvester ants, mating

Hallelujah Junction, California, USA
Neivamyrmex army ants are specialist predators of the brood of other ant species. Here, N. californicus raid the brood nest of the pavement ant Tetramorium caespitum. 

California, USA
Neivamyrmex army ants are specialist predators of the brood of other ant species. Here, N. californicus raid the brood nest of the pavement ant Tetramorium caespitum. 

California, USA
An Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) attacks a much larger fire ant (Solenopsis invicta).  Both species co-exist naturally in subtropical South America, but in the southern United States where both have been accidentally introduced, the fire ant has displaced the Argentine ants.

Austin, Texas, USA
A feisty little Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) attacks a much larger fire ant (Solenopsis invicta).  Both species co-exist naturally in subtropical South America, but in the southern United States where both have been accidentally introduced, the fire ant has displaced the Argentine ants.

Austin, Texas, USA
A ancient antagony between two highly competitive ants (Linepithema humile and Solenopsis invicta) from the same river basin in South America plays out again in North America where both have been introduced.

Austin, Texas, USA
Solenopsis invicta

Austin, Texas, USA
A feisty little Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) attacks a much larger fire ant (Solenopsis invicta).  Both species co-exist naturally in subtropical South America, but in the southern United States where both have been accidentally introduced, the fire ant has displaced the Argentine ants.

Austin, Texas, USA
A series of fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) nests along a curb.

Austin, Texas, USA
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, the western harvester ants, mating

Hallelujah Junction, California, USA
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, the western harvester ants, mating

Hallelujah Junction, California, USA
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, the western harvester ants, mating

Hallelujah Junction, California, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013