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
This young acacia ant queen has found a willing partner: a sapling with vacant thorns for her nest and abundant, nutritious beltian bodies to feed her larvae. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.
An early spring mating flight of red imported fire ants at Brackenridge Field Laboratory brings a frenzy of winged gynes and workers to the mound surface. Austin, Texas, USA.