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alexwild > Formica argentea (the silver/grey ant) is a frequent host species for the 'slave-raiding' ant Polyergus breviceps (red). Here, I have disturbed a hibernating nest in early spring. The red Polyergus are slow to wake, but their skittish captives are active earlier in the season and come to life. Sagehen Creek Field Station, California, USA
alexwild > Formica ravida alate queen searching for a potential host colony. This species is parasitic in the colony-founding stage, as newly-mated queens enter nests of other Formica species, kill the resident queen, and usurp the colony. California, USA
alexwild > Dorymyrmex reginiculus (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans. Workers of the two species coexist in a single nest for a period after the parasite queen has assumed reproduction and before the last remaining host workers die off. The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction. Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
alexwild > Dorymyrmex reginiculus (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans. Workers of the two species coexist in a single nest for a period after the parasite queen has assumed reproduction and before the last remaining host workers die off. The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction. Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
alexwild > Dorymyrmex reginiculus (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans. Workers of the two species coexist in a single nest for a period after the parasite queen has assumed reproduction and before the last remaining host workers die off. The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction. Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
alexwild > Dorymyrmex reginiculus (at left), a socially parasitic species, is harassed by a worker of its host Dorymyrmex elegans. Workers of the two species coexist in a single nest for a period after the parasite queen has assumed reproduction and before the last remaining host workers die off. The transition period is not entirely smooth, as evidenced by this aggressive interaction. Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
alexwild > A queen Polyergus breviceps with a host Formica argentea worker. Sagehen Creek, California, USA
alexwild > A dulotic colony of the slave-raiding ant Polyergus breviceps and its host, the silver field ant Formica argentea. Champaign, Illinois, USA
alexwild > Polyergus breviceps slave-raiding ant with its Formica argentea host. Notice the difference in mandible shape in the two species- the sharp tines in the slave-raider for fighting, and the broad working mandibles in the host. Sagehen Creek, California, USA
Formica argentea (the silver/grey ant) is a frequent host species for the 'slave-raiding' ant Polyergus breviceps (red). Here, I have disturbed a hibernating nest in early spring. The red Polyergus are slow to wake, but their skittish captives are active earlier in the season and come to life.

Sagehen Creek Field Station, California, USA
alexwild > Formica argentea (the silver/grey ant) is a frequent host species for the 'slave-raiding' ant Polyergus breviceps (red). Here, I have disturbed a hibernating nest in early spring. The red Polyergus are slow to wake, but their skittish captives are active earlier in the season and come to life. Sagehen Creek Field Station, California, USA
Formica argentea (the silver/grey ant) is a frequent host species for the 'slave-raiding' ant Polyergus breviceps (red). Here, I have disturbed a hibernating nest in early spring. The red Polyergus are slow to wake, but their skittish captives are active earlier in the season and come to life.

Sagehen Creek Field Station, California, USA
See photo in original gallery.
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