Doleromyrma darwiniana male and female alates in the nest.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Doleromyrma darwiniana male and female alates in the nest.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
An alate queen Camponotus chromaiodes climbs low vegetation before launching herself on a late spring mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Camponotus pennsylvanicus - eastern black carpenter ant (queen)
Camponotus pennsylvanicus - eastern black carpenter ant (queen)
Formica fusca alate female and worker.

South Bristol, New York, USA
Crematogaster cerasi males emerge from the nest for a mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis is the first ant to hold mating flights every year in temperate North America. Alates wait out the winter and emerge on the first warm spring days. This photo was taken in early March.

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