Veromessor andrei

Harvester ant workers carry grass seeds back to their nest along a busy trail. Hastings Reserve, Carmel Valley, California.

Veromessor andrei

Harvester ant workers carry grass seeds back to their nest along a busy trail. Hastings Reserve, Carmel Valley, California.

Veromessor andrei

A worker harvester ant with larvae. Jasper Ridge, California, USA

Veromessor andrei

On a cold spring day, harvester ants cluster around their nest entrance to warm up in the sun before heading out to forage. Frank Raines State Park, California, USA

Veromessor andrei

On a cold spring day, Veromessor harvester ants cluster around their nest entrance to warm up in the sun before heading out to forage. Frank Raines State Park, California, USA

Veromessor andrei

A busy nest entrance of harvester ants. Frank Raines State Park, California, USA

Veromessor lariversi

Night active ant species, such as this seed-harvester, are often lighter in color than their day active counterparts. Sand Springs Dune, Nevada, USA

Veromessor lariversi

Harvester ants are not strictly seed-eaters, and they will scavenge dead insects when they can. Here, a nocturnal harvester ant has discovered the carcass of an aquatic corixid bug. Sand Springs Dune, Nevada, USA

Veromessor pergandei

A busy colony of black harvester ants in the Colorado desert. Anza Borrego, California, USA.

Veromessor pergandei

Many desert species have a 'psammophore'- a basket of long hairs under the head- enabling the ants to carry dry sand. This individual was photographed on glass in the studio. Palm Desert, California

Veromessor pergandei

Predatory Euryopis spiders snatch foraging harvester ants and drag them up grass blades to feed. Here, a spider consumes a worker Veromessor pergandei. Mojave National Preserve, California, USA

Veromessor pergandei

Nest, showing the characteristic mound, in Mojave National Preserve, California, USA.

Veromessor pergandei

A busy colony of black harvester ants in the Colorado desert. Anza Borrego, California, USA.

Veromessor pergandei

Harvester ants carry seeds back to the nest. Mojave National Preserve, California, USA

Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor pergandei is among the most commonly seen seed harvesting ants in southern California. Colonies of this species contain worker ants of different sizes, while most other seed harvesters in the region have monomorphic workers. Here, a major worker carries a seed back to the nest. Anza Borrego Desert, California, USA

Veromessor pergandei

Messor pergandei seed-harvesting ants, with seeds. Colonies of this species contain worker ants of different sizes, while most other seed harvesters in the Mojave desert have monomorphic workers. Anza Borrego Desert, California, USA

Veromessor pergandei

Harvester ants do not feed on seeds alone. Here, Veromessor pergandei workers have discovered a dessicated caterpillar carcass. Note the size difference among the workers. Anza Borrego Desert, California, USA

Veromessor pergandei

Black harvester ant workers remove an unwanted queen from their nest. She may be an old queen who has ceased laying or a young rival to the dominant queen. Afton Canyon, California, USA

Veromessor pergandei

Harvester ant. This individual was photographed on glass in the studio. Palm Desert, California

Veromessor pergandei

Portrait of a harvester ant. The large heads of major workers house muscles for milling seeds. Palm Desert, California, USA

Veromessor pergandei

Many ant species that live in arid regions have a psammophore, a basket of hairs on the underside of the head that helps transport dry sand. Palm Desert, California, USA

Messor pergandei

This black harvester ant carries an old battle ornament on her antennae: a Solenopsis xyloni fire ant head capsule. Presumably the fire ant was killed in a fight, but her mandibles had latched so firmly to her opponent that it remains attached even as the rest of her body has fallen away. Anza Borrego, California, USA.

Veromessor pergandei

Harvester ant. Palm Desert, California

Veromessor pergandei

A black harvester ant at the nest entrance. Afton Canyon, California, USA

Veromessor pergandei

Portrait of a harvester ant. Palm Desert, California