A young Stigmacros queen pauses to groom herself while looking for a spot to found a new colony. Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia
Prior to a mating flight, male, queen, and worker citronella ants gather at the surface. Citronella ants are normally subterranean, and the late summer flights are a rare chance to see them above ground. Urbana, Illinois, USA
A young Lasius (Acanthomyops) interjectus queen climbs vegetation to help launch herself on a mating flight. This species is a social parasite, and following her flight this queen will infiltrate the nest of another Lasius species and attempt to usurp the resident queen. Urbana, Illinois, USA
