Pogonomyrmex badius, the Florida harvester ant, queen. Her enlarged thorax holds muscles from younger days when she had wings for dispersing from her natal nest. Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA

Pogonomyrmex badiusPogonomyrmexformicidaemyrmicinaeinsectsantsinsecthymenopterasocial insectscolonycastepolymorphismdivision of labordevelopmentplasticityfemalesant castesqueenqueensgynesharvester antsflorida harvester antgeneticsqueen ant