Linepithema humile
Linepithema humile, the Argentine ant. Davis, California, USA
An Argentine ant tends citrus scale insect for honeydew. Davis, California, USA
Argentine ants tending scale insects on an orange tree in suburban California. Davis, California, USA
The infamous Argentine Ant. California, USA
Argentine ants, where they invade, are voracious predators of native arthropods. They channel vast resources into their growing global empire. This supercolony has taken over the beaches of Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia.
A trail of Argentine ants. Davis, California, USA
A queen and worker Argentine ant, Linepithema humile. Córdoba, Argentina
Argentine ants fighting. Argentine ants typically form large supercolonies comprising millions of ants and thousands of nests. Within these massive supercolonies fighting is rare, but ants from neighboring supercolonies readily attack each other. Córdoba, Argentina
Workers tend to a queen in a laboratory colony of Argentine Ants (Linepithema humile). California, USA
Argentine ants (Linepithema humile), an aggressive pest species introduced by human commerce to California, attack a native Pogonomyrmex harvester ant. Native ants in many places around the world have disappeared in areas invaded by Argentine ants. Davis, California, USA
A feisty little Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) attacks a much larger fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Both species co-exist naturally in subtropical South America, but in the southern United States where both have been accidentally introduced, the fire ant has displaced the Argentine ants. Austin, Texas, USA
A worker and queen Argentine ant, Linepithema humile. Córdoba, Argentina
The odd insect at right is a male ant. He looks nothing like his sisters, bearing wings and large eyes to better serve his role of dispersal and mating. Davis, California, USA
An Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile) drinking. California, USA
Linepithema humile, the Argentine ant, queen and worker in the species' native range. Córdoba, Argentina
Argentine ants have spread from their native South America to conquer ecoystems around the world. This colony has taken over a beach in Victoria, Australia.Series voucher UTIC00201480.
Linepithema humile Quito, Ecuador
Linepithema humile Argentine ants tend to mealybugs. Quito, Ecuador
As a colony of subterranean termites (Reticulitermes hesperus) prepares for the annual release of winged reproductives, a predatory Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) approaches the nest for an easy protein meal. Davis, California, USA
Linepithema iniquum
Linepithema iniquum ranges from central America to northern Argentina and is recognized by the distinct "step" in its thoracic profile. Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
It looks like an old-fashioned mugging, but this photo shows a Linepithema iniquum scout being attacked after wandering into an orchid plant occupied by another colony of the same species. Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Ants from neighboring colonies fight over access to an orchid plant. Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
An ant collects honeydew from a flat scale insect in an Ecuadorian cloud forest. Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
