Azteca alfari

The hollow stem of a Cecropia ant-plant is divided into chambers to house fierce Azteca alfari ants. Inside, the ants raise their brood and tend to mealybugs. Gamboa, Panama

Azteca alfari

Cecropia ants sharing a moment... Gamboa, Panama

Azteca alfari

A worker ant guarding her Cecropia host tree. Gamboa, Panama

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 alfari Cecropia ants do not tolerate other species on their host tree. When intruders are encountered, the Azteca patrollers work together to pin them down. Interestingly, the offending insects aren't always killed. This Camponotus was simply dragged to the edge of the plant and dropped. Gamboa, Panama

The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants. Here, a worker walks across a pile of maturing pupae. Gamboa, Panama

An Azteca alfari worker ant guards the nest entrance. Gamboa, Panama

Azteca alfari Cecropia ants guard their tree zealously against intruders. Working together, they surround and immobilize their opponents such as this trap-jaw ant by pinning down their appendages. Gamboa, Panama

The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants. Here, a worker drags a larva to safety after the photographer disturbs the nest. Gamboa, Panama

The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants. Here, a worker carries a larva to safety after the photographer disturbs the nest. Note the mealybugs at lower-left, which the ants tend for honeydew. Gamboa, Panama Gamboa, Panama

Azteca alfari Gamboa, Panama

Azteca alfari Gamboa, Panama

The hollow stem of a Cecropia tree houses a colony of fierce Azteca alfari ants. Gamboa, Panama

Azteca alfari at the nest entrance. Gamboa, Panama

Food bodies sprout from the base of a Cecropia leaf. These feed the plant's protective Azteca ants. Gamboa, Panama

Azteca constructor

Trees in the genus Cecropia are protected by colonies of fierce Azteca ants that live in the hollow stems. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Azteca constructor

Trees in the genus Cecropia are protected by colonies of fierce Azteca ants that live in the hollow stems. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Azteca constructor

Splitting open the hollow trunk of a Cecropia tree reveals carton galleries constructed by symbiotic Azteca ants. These galleries are empty, as the colony has moved upwards towards the tips of the branches. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Azteca constructor

A Cecropia ant nest entrance. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.

Azteca constructor

Splitting open the hollow trunk of a Cecropia tree reveals carton galleries constructed by symbiotic Azteca ants. These galleries are empty, as the colony has moved upwards towards the tips of the branches. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.