keyword pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6  >  
< 5 of 51 >
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
Pogonomyrmex desertorum harvesting seeds from a grass stalk. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pheidole xerophila is a common small seed harvester in the deserts of the American southwest. Here are major and minor workers along a foraging trail. Mojave National Preserve, California, USA
Aphaenogaster cockerelli, one of the most conspicuous harvester ants of American southwest, carries a mesquite seed back to her nest. Tucson, Arizona, USA
A harvester ant worker (Pogonomyrmex rugosus) pulls grass seeds off the stalk. Ants store the seeds in underground chambers to carry them through times of drought. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Pogonomyrmex rastratus Amaicha del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina
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 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
Aphaenogaster cockerelli, one of the most conspicuous harvester ants of American southwest, carries a mesquite seed back to her nest.

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
Aphaenogaster cockerelli, one of the most conspicuous harvester ants of American southwest, carries a mesquite seed back to her nest.

Tucson, Arizona, USA
See photo in original gallery.
keyword pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6  >  
< 5 of 51 >
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013