Dicromantispa sayi

The raptorial forelegs of mantisflies are used, like those of a preying mantis, to capture prey. This Dicromantispa has caught a small moth. Austin, Texas, USA.

Dicromantispa sayi

The raptorial forelegs of mantisflies are used, like those of a preying mantis, to capture prey. This Dicromantispa has caught a small moth. Austin, Texas, USA.

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

Portrait of a small fungus-farming ant. Brackenridge Field Lab, Austin, Texas, USA.

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

Portrait of a small fungus-farming ant. Brackenridge Field Lab, Austin, Texas, USA.

Aphid live birth

A winged sexual morph of an aphid gives live birth. Stengl Lost Pines Field Station, Texas, USA.

Plecia nearctica

Lovebugs from a fall emergence mating on goldenrod. Stengl Lost Pines Field Station, Texas, USA.

Loxosceles reclusa

In nature, brown recluse spiders spin small webs in secluded, covered areas. I found this one living under an old log in an oak/pine forest. Stengl Lost Pines Field Station, Texas, USA.

Loxosceles reclusa

Portrait of a brown recluse. Stengl Lost Pines Field Station, Texas, USA.

Eacles imperialis

An imperial moth caterpillar feeds on an oak leaf. Stengl Lost Pines Field Station, Texas, USA.

Eacles imperialis

An imperial moth caterpillar feeds on an oak leaf. Stengl Lost Pines Field Station, Texas, USA.

Eacles imperialis

An imperial moth caterpillar feeds on an oak leaf. Stengl Lost Pines Field Station, Texas, USA.

Polistes carolina

A late-season nest of Carolina paper wasps tucked into the needles of a loblolly pine. Stengl Lost Pines Field Station, Texas, USA.

Polistes carolina

A late-season nest of Carolina paper wasps tucked into the needles of a loblolly pine. Stengl Lost Pines Field Station, Texas, USA.

Stiretrus anchorago

A predatory stink bug sucks the juices out of a caterpillar. Austin, Texas, USA.

Aedes vexans

An Inland Floodwater Mosquito takes a blood meal from the photographer. Austin, Texas, USA.

Misumenoides formosipes - white-banded crab spider

South Bristol, New York, USA

Phidippus audax

This bold jumping spider has caught a nymphalid caterpillar. Austin, Texas, USA.

Melanaphis sacchari

Sugarcane aphids are an introduced pest of many grasses in the southeastern United States. Austin, Texas, USA.

Sphaenothecus bilineatus

Austin, Texas, USA

Prenolepis imparis

Workers from neighboring Prenolepis winter ant colonies test each others' defenses in a tense but non-lethal confrontation. Ordway Reserve, Minnesota, USA.

Prenolepis imparis

Workers from neighboring Prenolepis winter ant colonies test each others' defenses in a tense but non-lethal confrontation. The ants assess the size and number of their opponents, sometimes lunging or lightly biting but holding back from untethered aggression. It is thought these ritualistic battles help ants adjust territorial boundaries while avoiding loss of life. Ordway Reserve, Minnesota, USA.

Prenolepis imparis

Workers from neighboring Prenolepis winter ant colonies test each others' defenses in a tense but non-lethal confrontation. Ordway Reserve, Minnesota, USA.

Strymon melinus

The gray hairstreak has an entire fake insect painted backwards on its wings, an illusion carried right down to realistic moving "antennae". This species is among the most common North American butterflies. Austin, Texas, USA.

Heraclides cresphontes

Larvae of the giant swallowtail Heraclides cresphontes mimic bird droppings to avoid predation. Austin, Texas, USA.

Carebara longii

The only member of the circumtropical genus Carebara found in the United States is Carebara longii, a subterranean ant known only from Texas and one of the most rarely-encountered species on the continent. Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Austin, Texas, USA.

Carebara longii

The only member of the circumtropical genus Carebara found in the United States is Carebara longii, a subterranean ant known only from Texas and one of the most rarely-encountered species on the continent. Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Austin, Texas, USA.

Carebara longii

The only member of the circumtropical genus Carebara in the United States is Carebara longii, a subterranean ant recorded from several locations in Texas and one of the most rarely-encountered species on the continent. Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Austin, Texas, USA.

Hedychrum sp.

A cuckoo wasp drinks nectar from an early-flowering goldenrod. This species is a parasite of philanthine wasps. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Antennophorus mites on Lasius claviger

Look closely at the underside of these ants' heads to see parastic Antennophorus mites. These mites live on ants and steal food from their mouths. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Antennophorus mite on Lasius ant

Look closely at the underside of the ant's head to see a parastic Antennophorus mite. These mites live on ants and steal food from their mouths. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Polistes fuscatus

A female northern paper wasp on a mid-season nest. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Polistes fuscatus

A female northern paper wasp on a mid-season nest. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Rhagio lineola

This European snipe fly species was accidentally introduced to North America. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Stigmatomma pallipes

Pulling back a stone reveals an underground nest of dracula ants. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Stigmatomma pallipes

Eggs and larvae in a nest of North American dracula ants. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Formica glacialis

The ant Formica glacialis is found in post-glacial habitats in North America. Here, a worker gathers nectar from an early-blooming goldenrod. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Formica pergandei & Formica glacialis

Formica pergandei (red) is a social parasite that kidnaps brood from other ant species to use as labor. Here, guards from a target Formica glacialis colony put up a tough enough fight that the kidnappers failed to breach the nest. South Bristol, New York, USA.

Formica pergandei & Formica glacialis

A kidnapper ant (at left) fights with guard from a Formica glacialis colony. South Bristol, New York, USA.