Colobopsis etiolata

A major worker of a cork-headed ant. The heads of these unusual insects serve as living doors to the ants' tree-branch nests. Gonzales, Texas, USA.

Colobopsis etiolata

The light color and strongly margined clypeal "plug" distinguish Colobopsis etiolata from other Texan Colobopsis. Gonzales, Texas, USA.

Colobopsis etiolata

Worker dimorphism in the cork-headed ant Colobopsis etiolata. Gonzales, Texas, USA.

Colobopsis etiolata

The cork-headed ant Colobopsis etiolata is largely nocturnal. Gonzales, Texas, USA.

Colobopsis gasseri

Adelaide, South Australia

Colobopsis gasseri

Ants are not ideal pollinators, but pollen sticks to them anyway as they walk their way among nearby plants. Here, a cork-headed ant worker drinks nectar from a Euphorbia flower along the Australian south coast. Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.

Colobopsis impressa

The blunt head of this major worker serves as a living door to this species' twig nests. Laboratory colony at the University of Central Florida, USA

Colobopsis impressa

Colobopsis impressa is a small arboreal ant whose minor workers (right) mimic Crematogaster acrobat ants. The major workers (left) serve as living doors, plugging nest entrances with an enlarged head. Laboratory colony at the University of Central Florida, USA

Colobopsis impressa

Cork ant nestmates with a pupa. Note the differences in size and shape between major and minor workers. Laboratory colony at the University of Central Florida, USA

Colobopsis impressa

Colobopsis impressa major worker. Laboratory colony at the University of Central Florida, USA

Colobopsis impressa

A cork ant, major worker. The blunt head serves as a living door to this species' twig nests. Laboratory colony at the University of Central Florida, USA

Colobopsis papago

Ants that nest in trees often have bizarre adaptations for plugging the entrances to their nests. This Camponotus papago queen has a cork-like head that doubles as a door. Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA

Colobopsis papago

Ants that nest in trees often have bizarre adaptations for plugging the entrances to their nests. This Camponotus papago queen has a cork-like head that doubles as a door. Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA

Colobopsis papago

Camponotus papago, alate queen Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA

Colobopsis papago

An alate queen. Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA

Colobopsis vitrea

Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia