A Prenolepis imparis winter ant gyne climbs a twig prior to her early spring mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A Prenolepis imparis winter ant gyne climbs a twig prior to her early spring mating flight.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis, portrait of a worker ant.

Savoy, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis gathering nectar.

Champaign, Illinois, USA
Prenolepis imparis gathering nectar.

Champaign, Illinois, USA
Deep inside a nest of Prenolepis imparis, young worker ants are swollen with liquid food.  These replete ants act as living storage containers and allow the colonies to persist through dearth periods.

Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, USA
Prenolepis imparis gathering nectar.

Champaign, Illinois, USA
A pair of Prenolepis imparis workers tend a scale insect for honeydew.

Del Puerto Canyon, California, USA
Deep inside a nest of Prenolepis imparis, young worker ants are swollen with liquid food.  These replete ants act as living storage containers and allow the colonies to persist through dearth periods.

Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, USA
A pair of Prenolepis imparis workers tend a scale insect for honeydew.

Del Puerto Canyon, California, USA
A pair of Prenolepis imparis workers tend a scale insect for honeydew.

Del Puerto Canyon, California, USA
A pair of Prenolepis imparis workers tend a scale insect for honeydew.

Del Puerto Canyon, California, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013