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Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants. Here, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Pogonomyrmex maricopa harvester ants inspect a mesquite seed. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Aphaenogaster cockerelli, one of the most conspicuous harvester ants of American southwest, carries a mesquite seed back to her nest. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex micans worker grappling with a seed. Seed-harvesting ants store their finds in underground chambers, where their cache helps them survice periods of dearth. Frías, Santiago de Estero, Argentina
Pogonomyrmex maricopa harvester ants inspect a mesquite seed. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex badius, the Florida harvester ant Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Pogonomyrmex badius, the Florida harvester ant Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
A minor worker of Pheidole aberrans, a small but ambitious South American harvester ant, lugs a grass seed to her nest. Correa, Santa Fe, Argentina
Aphaenogaster cockerelli, one of the most conspicuous harvester ants of American southwest, carries a mesquite seed back to her nest. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants.

Here, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants. Here, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Some plants have come to rely so heavily on ants to spread their seeds about that they offer the insects a tasty treat in exchange for the dispersal service. Seeds of these species bear a lipid-filled structure called an elaiosome, whose sole function appears to be the attraction of ants.

Here, Aphaenogaster fulva disperse bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seeds.

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