Litter-dwelling ants nest in a variety of pre-existing natural cavities. This African Technomyrmex has moved part of their colony into an old nutshell.

Kibale forest, Uganda
A Technomyrmex difficilis worker tends an aphid for honeydew.

Orlando, Florida, USA
A worker ant (Technomyrmex difficilis) tending aphids.

Orlando, Florida, USA
A Technomyrmex difficilis white-footed ant tends to aphids for honeydew. The aphids gain protection from predators in exchange for their sweet exudates.

Orlando, Florida, USA
A Technomyrmex difficilis white-footed ant tends to aphids for honeydew. The aphids gain protection from predators in exchange for their sweet exudates.

Orlando, Florida, USA
A worker ant (Technomyrmex difficilis) tending aphids.

Orlando, Florida, USA
A Technomyrmex difficilis worker tends an aphid for honeydew.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Technomyrmex difficilis, the white-footed ant, has spread around the world with commerce and is now common in many tropical countries. Here, a worker carries a pupa.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
Technomyrmex albipes - white-footed ant tending to a mealybug (Pseudococcidae) for honeydew. 

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
A Technomyrmex difficilis white-footed ant tends to aphids for honeydew. The aphids gain protection from predators in exchange for their sweet exudates.

Orlando, Florida, USA
A Technomyrmex difficilis white-footed ant tends to aphids for honeydew. The aphids gain protection from predators in exchange for their sweet exudates.

Orlando, Florida, USA
A Technomyrmex difficilis white-footed ant tends to aphids for honeydew. The aphids gain protection from predators in exchange for their sweet exudates.

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