Major and minor workers of the turtle ant Cephalotes pusillus engage in trophallaxis food-sharing behavior.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Major and minor workers of the turtle ant Cephalotes pusillus engage in trophallaxis food-sharing behavior.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Major and minor workers of the turtle ant Cephalotes pusillus engage in trophallaxis food-sharing behavior.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
A busy trail of Odorous House Ants, Tapinoma sessile. The trail is maintained by a chemical laid down by ants as they pass.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Cephalotes pusillus workers in the nest.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Soldier Syntermes are among the largest termites in South America. This individual is guarding a nest entrance.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Unlike soldier ants that are usually larger than workers, soldier nasute termites are often smaller.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
A bewildering architectural variety exists among the many species of social wasps. This Brazilian Myschocyttarus paper wasp makes a long, rope-like nest.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
A bewildering architectural variety exists among the many species of social wasps. This Brazilian Myschocyttarus paper wasp makes a long, rope-like nest.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
A bewildering architectural variety exists among the many species of social wasps. This Brazilian Myschocyttarus paper wasp makes a long, rope-like nest.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
A bewildering architectural variety exists among the many species of social wasps. This Brazilian Myschocyttarus paper wasp makes a long, rope-like nest.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
A bewildering architectural variety exists among the many species of social wasps. This Brazilian Myschocyttarus paper wasp makes a long, rope-like nest.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013