Acromyrmex balzani

A leafcutter ant carries a grass stem back to her nest. Leafcutter species tend to specialize on either broadleaf plants or grasses. Entre Rios, Argentina

Acromyrmex lundii

Correa, Santa Fe, Argentina

Acromyrmex lundii

A leafcutter ant finishes a cut. Correa, Santa Fe, Argentina.

Acromyrmex lobicornis

Amaicha del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina

Acromyrmex lobicornis

Amaicha del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina

Acromyrmex sp. nr. crassispinus

Acromyrmex sp. nr. crassispinus cutting into an orange peel. Citrus is a favorite target for leafcutters, perhaps because the plants are not native to the Americas and have not yet evolved defenses against the voracious ants. Lagunas de Yala, Jujuy, Argentina

Acromyrmex sp. nr. crassispinus

Up close with a leafcutter ant showing her impressive slicing mandibles. Lagunas de Yala, Jujuy, Argentina

Amoimyrmex silvestrii

A worker stands guard at the edge of her nest. Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Amoimyrmex silvestrii

Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Amoimyrmex silvestrii

Leafcutter ants don't normally fight with other types of ants, but they can be brutal towards other leafcutters. Here, a trio of Amoimyrmex workers team up to kill an Atta saltensis leafcutter that has wandered into their territory. Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Amoimyrmex silvestrii

An ancient leafcutter carries a bit of vegetation back to her nest. Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Amoimyrmex silvestrii

The lighter color of the leafcutter ant at right indicates a younger age. Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Amoimyrmex silvestrii

Workers cooperate to bring a seed back to their nest. Amaicha del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina

Atta saltensis

Frías, Stgo. del Estero, Argentina

Camponotus mus

Most species in the cosmopolitan ant genus Camponotus have workers of varying size and proportion in the nest. Correa, Santa Fe, Argentina

Camponotus mus

Correa, Santa Fe, Argentina

Camponotus punctulatus

Camponotus punctulatus is one of the most common Camponotus species in subtropical South America. Ubajay, Entre Rios, Argentina

Camponotus punctulatus

Major worker. Ubajay, Entre Rios, Argentina

Camponotus punctulatus

Camponotus punctulatus workers busy at the nest entrance. This is one of the most common Camponotus species in subtropical South America. Ubajay, Entre Rios, Argentina

Camponotus rosariensis

Ant tending scale insects for honeydew. Notice that the younger scale insects have legs. These first instar scale are more mobile than the older instars, which settle down once they find a good spot for feeding. Frías, Santiago de Estero, Argentina

Camponotus rosariensis

Worker ants tending scale insects for honeydew. Frías, Santiago de Estero, Argentina

Camponotus rosariensis

Worker ant foraging on a tree trunk Amaicha del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina

Camponotus rosariensis

Worker tending scale insects for honeydew Frías, Santiago de Estero, Argentina

Camponotus sexguttatus

Correa, Santa Fe, Argentina