Temnothorax albispinus
Barely visible against the soil, an tiny endemic Temnothorax forages in Puerto Rico's Guanica dry forest.
Temnothorax americanus
Temnothorax americanus, an acorn slave-raiding ant, was long classified in its own genus, Protomognathus. Urbana, Illinois, USA
An acorn slave-raiding ant. The large head and strong jaws are useful during raids for overcoming the defenses of acorn ants. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Temnothorax americanus, Temnothorax curvispinosus
A mixed colony of Temnothorax americanus (the acorn slave-raiding ant, dark brown) and its host, Temnothorax curvispinosus. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Acorn ant workers (Temnothorax curvispinosus) care for brood while the parasites (T. americanus) sit idly by. Urbana, Illinois, USA
A slave-raiding queen, Temnothorax americanus. Urbana, Illinois, USA
A mixed colony of Temnothorax americanus (the acorn slave-raiding ant, dark brown) and its host, T. curvispinosus. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Temnothorax andrei
Temnothorax andrei is a common soil-nesting species in western North America. Mojave National Preserve, California, USA
Temnothorax caguatan
Temnothorax caguatan is a common arboreal ant along the west coast of North America where it nests in dead branches. The species was not formally described until 2014. Jasper Ridge Biological Reserve, California, USA
Temnothorax curvispinosus
The slender, light-colored Temnothorax curvispinosus is a common acorn ant in eastern and central North America. Champaign, Illinois, USA
Queen and worker Temnothorax curvispinosus, a young nest inside a plant stem. Urbana, Illinois, USA
Males in a nest of acorn ants. Colonies often specialize in producing either winged males or winged queens during reproductive season. Urbana, Illinois, USA.
Urbana, Illinois, USA
Cracking open an acorn reveals a colony of Temnothorax curvispinosus acorn ants. This species will also nest in walnut shells, twigs, plant galls, and other small pre-formed cavities. Urbana, Illinois, USA
In spite of their common name, "acorn ants" nest in a variety of small cavities. This colony inhabited an old walnut shell. Champaign, Illinois, USA
Temnothorax gallae
Temnothorax gallae is an ecologically specialized ant that nests in pre-existing cavities of manzanita trees. Jasper Ridge, California, USA
Temnothorax isabellae
A contender for the world's most beautiful ant. El Yunque, Puerto Rico.
The function of the unusual coloration of Temnothorax isabellae, a highly distinctive Puerto Rican endemic ant, is not known but might make a great question for a graduate student dissertation. El Yunque, Puerto Rico.
A pair of worker ants carry bits of debris, around near their nest, for reasons that were not at all clear to the photographer.
Unable to get its cargo head-first into the nest, this worker ant has turned around and is delicately backing up into the small entrance. El Yunque, Puerto Rico.
