The most risky phase in the life history of an ant colony is during founding, when young females set off to start new colonies. The vast majority perish at this stage. This queen carpenter ant (Camponotus modoc has been attacked and killed by a fungus, whose white hyphae are seen emerging from the carcass. Sagehen Creek Field Station, California, USA

This worker honeypot ant (Myrmecocystus mexicanus) is slowly being consumed from within by a fungus, visible here as growths extruding from the body and appendages. As soil-dwelling creatures, ants are in constant battle against microbes that thrive in the warm, humid conditions of their nests. Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, USA