Unlike most stinging insects, ants of this genus don't use their stingers to inject venom. Rather, Crematogaster employ theirs like a brush to smear a droplet of venom on their attackers. This worker exudes a droplet in response to the photographer. Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Crematogaster opuntiae gathering nectar from a cholla cactus. Tucson, Arizona, USA
Sonoran desert cacti are frequently covered in ants. Cacti provide ants with nectar- a ready food supply in a harsh environment- in exchange for protection from herbivorous insects. Here, two Crematogaster opuntiae acrobat ants exchange nectar they have gathered from a chain-link cholla. Tucson, Arizona, USA
