Monomorium floricola ranks among the most traveled of all ants.  This diminutive species has spread with human commerce to nearly every lowland tropical region.  Here, a worker tends to a mealybug in Panama.

Isla Contadora, Panama
Monomorium floricola ranks among the most traveled of all ants.  This diminutive species has spread with human commerce to nearly every lowland tropical region.  Here, a worker tends to a mealybug in Panama.

Isla Contadora, Panama
Protected inside a translucent silken tent, Oecophylla longinoda weaver ants gather honeydew from mealybugs. The ants weave the tent using silk produced by their larvae.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Protected inside a translucent silken tent, Oecophylla longinoda weaver ants gather honeydew from mealybugs. The ants weave the tent using silk produced by their larvae.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Formicine ants are often dependent on honeydew-producing insects.  Here, Lepisiota sp. workers tend to scale insects in a South African forest.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Formicine ants are often dependent on honeydew-producing insects.  Here, Lepisiota sp. workers tend to scale insects in a South African forest.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
A pair of Prenolepis imparis workers tend a scale insect for honeydew.

Del Puerto Canyon, California, USA
Protected inside a translucent silken tent, Oecophylla longinoda weaver ants gather honeydew from mealybugs. The ants weave the tent using silk produced by their larvae.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Protected inside a translucent silken tent, Oecophylla longinoda weaver ants gather honeydew from mealybugs. The ants weave the tent using silk produced by their larvae.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Formicine ants are often dependent on honeydew-producing insects. Here, Lepisiota sp. workers tend to scale insects in a South African forest.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Formicine ants are often dependent on honeydew-producing insects.  Here, Lepisiota sp. workers tend to scale insects in a South African forest.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
Formicine ants are often dependent on honeydew-producing insects. Here, Lepisiota sp. workers tend to scale insects in a South African forest.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013