How small is Wasmannia auropunctata, the little fire ant? Small enough to dance on the point of a pencil!

Orlando, Florida, USA
Wasmannia auropunctata, the little fire ant.

Orlando, Florida, USA
How small is Wasmannia auropunctata, the little fire ant? Small enough to dance on the point of a pencil!

Orlando, Florida, USA
How small is Wasmannia auropunctata, the little fire ant? Small enough to dance on the point of a pencil!

Orlando, Florida, USA
Wasmannia auropunctata is one of the smallest of the major pest ants.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Wasmannia auropunctata, the little fire ant.

Orlando, Florida, USA
Wasmannia auropunctata workers feeding on a cookie crumb set out as bait by researchers in Buenos Aires.  Shortbread cookies make good baits for myrmicine ants.

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Wasmannia auropunctata, the little fire ant, is one of the world's worst pest ants.

Gamboa, Panama
Friend or foe?  Two Wasmannia auropunctata meet on a foraging trail and briefly assess each other. Ants from different colonies will attack each other, but these two are nestmates and let each other pass.

Gamboa, Panama
How small is Wasmannia auropunctata, the little fire ant? Small enough to dance on the point of a pencil!

Orlando, Florida, USA
How small is Wasmannia auropunctata, the little fire ant? Small enough to dance on the point of a pencil!

Orlando, Florida, USA
How small is Wasmannia auropunctata, the little fire ant? Small enough to dance on the point of a pencil!

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