The golden carpenter ant Camponotus sericeiventris is among the largest and most colorful neotropical ant species. 

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Cephalotes maculatus is among the smallest species of turtle ant.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Cephalotes pusillus - turtle ant, major worker. The deep recesses on the head (the "scrobes") allow the ant to fully retract her delicate antennae.

Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Portrait of a hairy crazy ant Nylanderia sp. nr. pubens.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
The taxonomy of the hairy crazy ant Nylanderia sp. is not yet settled, and the pest species is referred to variously as Nylanderia fulva, Nylanderia pubens, and Nylanderia nr. pubens.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
The taxonomy of the hairy crazy ant Nylanderia sp. is not yet settled, and the pest species is referred to variously as Nylanderia fulva, Nylanderia pubens, and Nylanderia nr. pubens.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Major workers of the South American species Pheidole aberrans have an unusually large head even for a Pheidole.

Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Gnamptogenys sp.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
A larva of a Myrmeleon sp. antlion, uncomfortably pulled from its burrow.

Orlando, Florida, USA
The taxonomy of the hairy crazy ant Nylanderia sp. is not yet settled, and the pest species is referred to variously as Nylanderia fulva, Nylanderia pubens, and Nylanderia nr. pubens.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
The taxonomy of the hairy crazy ant Nylanderia sp. is not yet settled, and the pest species is referred to variously as Nylanderia fulva, Nylanderia pubens, and Nylanderia nr. pubens.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
The taxonomy of the hairy crazy ant Nylanderia sp. is not yet settled, and the pest species is referred to variously as Nylanderia fulva, Nylanderia pubens, and Nylanderia nr. pubens.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013