Queen and worker Temnothorax curvispinosus, a young nest inside a plant stem.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Stigmatomma oregonensis.  Many of the most ancient lineages of ants show little size difference between queens and workers.  Here, a queen sits atop a pile of brood in a laboratory nest; the other individuals are workers.

Quincy, California, USA
Stigmatomma oregonensis.  Many of the most ancient lineages of ants show little size difference between queens and workers.  Here, a queen sits atop a pile of brood in a laboratory nest; the other individuals are workers.

Quincy, California, USA
Queen and worker Temnothorax curvispinosus, a young nest inside a plant stem.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Queen and worker Temnothorax curvispinosus, a young nest inside a plant stem.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Queen and worker Temnothorax curvispinosus, a young nest inside a plant stem.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013