Labidus coecus

Maquipucuna Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador

Labidus coecus

Maquipucuna Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador

Labidus coecus

Removing the surface soil reveals an underground tunnel of Labidus coecus. Maquipucuna Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador

Labidus coecus

Maquipucuna Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador

Labidus coecus

Army ant workers repair damage to a tunnel. Maquipucuna Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador

Labidus mars

Labidus mars is a compact subterranean army ant. It is not commonly seen, but this apparent rarity may be more due to the ants' underground existence than to actual scarcity. Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Labidus praedator

Gamboa, Panama

Labidus praedator

A Labidus praedator soldier rears up at the photographer. Gamboa, Panama

Labidus praedator

Army ant workers vary considerably in size. Gamboa, Panama

Labidus praedator

Soldier stands guard over a trail. Gamboa, Panama

Labidus praedator

Gamboa, Panama

Labidus praedator with ant mite

The red "backpack" on the second ant is a mite that lives only on the bodie of army ants. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Labidus praedator

Army ants carry prey slung under their bodies, as this large Labidus demonstrates with an isopod she has captured. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador

Labidus praedator

Returning from the raid front with an insect egg. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador

Labidus spininodis

A column of army ants runs along the forest floor. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Labidus spininodis

The larger workers in an army ant colony specialize in cutting up or carrying the largest prey items. Here, a Labidus major laboriously pulls an earthworm her colony has captured. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Labidus spininodis

A major worker attempts to slice an earthworm into manageable pieces during a raid in an Ecuadorian cloud forest. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Labidus spininodis

A nighttime raiding column. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Labidus spininodis army ants hunt isopods

Fleeing an army ant raid, a pair of isopods goes out on a limb. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Labidus spininodis army ants hunt isopods

Fleeing an army ant raid, a pair of isopods goes out on a limb. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Labidus spininodis

An isopod falls prey to a raid of Labidus spininodis army ants. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Rove beetle in Labidus spininodis colony

Army ant colonies are worth close attention, as they are full of fascinating and poorly studied associates. Here, an ant-mimicking rove beetle runs in a nighttime raiding column in the Ecuadorian cloud forest. The mimicry is likely intended to fool the beetle's predators rather than the army ants, which have poor vision. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Labidus spininodis & associates

This photograph shows two arthropod associates of an army ant colony. To the right is a small Vatesus rove beetle. Harder to see is the coxal mite, molded perfectly to base of the hind leg of the ant at left. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Vatesus with Labidus spininodis

It is worth paying close attention to army ant colonies, as they are full of fascinating and poorly studied associates. Here, a tiny Vatesus rove beetle runs in a nighttime raiding column in the Ecuadorian cloud forest. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.