A young fire ant queen prepares for her mating flight. Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Austin, Texas, USA.
A heavy overnight rain induces a fire ant mating flight the following day. Here a young winged female climbs a stalk of grass for an easier takeoff. Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Austin, Texas, USA.
Winged fire ant females scale vegetation prior to launching themselves on a late spring mating flight. Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Austin, Texas, USA.