A soldier Cephalotes porrasi turtle ant seals the nest entrance with her head (left), while one of her sisters passes by. Soldiers act as living doors, allowing only members of their own colonies to pass. Armenia, Belize
Texas turtle ants are found in the wetter regions of south Texas, where they commonly inhabit old beetle burrows in the dead branchs of live oak trees. Here, a minor worker pauses on the underside of an oak leaf. Cost, Texas, USA.
Portrait of a living door: a soldier Texan turtle ant. Cost, Texas, USA.
