Acanthognathus ocellatus
Miniature trap-jaw ant. Venezuela
Acromyrmex coronatus
A crowned leafcutter ant pauses on the Amazonian forest floor. Peru.
Acropyga goeldii
Acropyga goeldii ants are so dependent on their mealybug associates that young queens must carry a bug with them on their dispersal flights to successfully start a new colony. Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
An Acropyga goeldii worker carries a mealybug. Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Allomerus octoarticulatus
A colony of tiny ants inhabits the swollen domatia of a Cordia nodosa understory shrub. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Slicing open a swollen domatia of an Amazonian Cordia ant-plant reveals a young Allomerus colony. Refugio Amazonas, Tambopata, Peru.
A worker tends to larvae inside a Cordia domatia. Refugio Amazonas, Tambopata, Peru.
The stem-hugging galleries of Allomerus octoarticulatus ants are made of fungal hyphae growing through a matrix of detritus. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Atta cephalotes
Jatun Sacha, Napo, Ecuador
Small leafcutter workers riding cut leaves. Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Soldier and worker ants in the fungus garden of an Atta cephalotes colony. Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences
Captive colony at the University of Texas
Gamboa, Panama
Leafcutter ants make characteristic circular cuts. Here an ant completes the curve. Captive colony at the University of Texas
Atta colombica
The busy nest entrance of Atta colombica, a forest-dwelling leafcutter ant. Gamboa, Panama
Atta sexdens
Leafcutter ants slice through leaves by anchoring with one mandible (at right) while pulling the opposing, cutting mandible across. Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, Peru.
Azteca alfari
In a small chamber in the heart of a Cecropia sapling, a young Azteca alfari queen hunkers down to start a new ant colony. Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Azteca
An old Azteca guard stands alert along a tree trunk in a Colombian forest. Note the missing antennal segments, a sign of past battles. Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Azteca in Cordia stem
The swollen stem of a Cordia nodosa plant houses a symbiotic colony of Azteca ants. The ants protect the plant from herbivores in exchange for lodging. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
The swollen stem of a Cordia nodosa plant houses a symbiotic colony of Azteca ants. The ants protect the plant from herbivores in exchange for lodging. The large ant at center is the queen. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Azteca & Eciton
Guard ants from an Azteca colony defend their nest from an army ant raid by pinning down one of the invaders (Eciton hamatum). Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Azteca sp.
The brood nest of the ant-plant ant Azteca is a mix of ant larvae (the larger grubs) and Beltian food bodies (the smaller ovoids). The Cecropia tree housing the ants also produces Beltian bodies as nourishment to the larvae. Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
