Friend or foe? Two Monomorium pharaonis worker ants briefly touch antennae along a pheromone trail.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
A busy trail of Monomorium pharaonis pharaoh ants. This species is now among the most pesty house-inhabitating ants worldwide.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Friend or foe? Two Monomorium pharaonis worker ants briefly touch antennae along a pheromone trail.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
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
Nomamyrmex esenbeckii workers carrying a massive Pheidole pupa they have taken in a successful raid.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Procryptocerus hylaeus, worker (left) and queen.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Procryptocerus hylaeus, worker (left) and queen.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Acropyga goeldii worker & alate queen. Workers are nearly blind, but queens have eyes to help navigate during their brief flight to start a new colony.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Acropyga goeldii worker & alate queen. Workers are nearly blind, but queens have eyes to help navigate during their brief flight to start a new colony.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
A busy trail of Monomorium pharaonis pharaoh ants. This species is now among the most pesty house-inhabitating ants worldwide.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
A busy trail of Monomorium pharaonis pharaoh ants. This species is now among the most pesty house-inhabitating ants worldwide.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
A busy trail of Monomorium pharaonis pharaoh ants. This species is now among the most pesty house-inhabitating ants worldwide.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013