Portrait of a social parasite, Aphaenogaster tennesseensis. Urbana, Illinois, USA - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography - Insect Pictures

Aphaenogaster

is a heterogeneous assemblage of slender myrmicine ants found worldwide. A number of species are seed harvesters, while other species, such as A. tennesseensis, are social parasites of other Aphaenogaster. A few Australian species build extensive soil mounds and are regarded as pests of lawns and pastures.

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Aphaenogaster rudis

Manhattan, Kansas, USA

Portrait of a social parasite, Aphaenogaster tennesseensis.

Urbana, Illinois, USA

Socially parasitic ants are usually discernable by their relatively small queens, as ants that start new colonies by infiltrating existing nests do not need large body reserves. The queen of Aphaenogaster tennesseensis- a temporary nest-founding parasite of several other woodland Aphaenogaster- is scarcely larger than her own workers.

Urbana, Illinois, USA

This parasitic Aphaenogaster tennesseensis queen has just penetrated a nest of her host species, Aphaenogaster rudis. She is highly attractive to her victims, who unknowingly tend her and begin raising her eggs as their own. The original host queen killed, this colony will gradually turn into a full nest of A. tennesseensis.

Manhattan, Kansas, USA

This parasitic Aphaenogaster tennesseensis queen has just penetrated a nest of her host species, Aphaenogaster rudis. She is highly attractive to her victims, who unknowingly tend her and begin raising her eggs as their own. The original host queen killed, this colony will gradually turn into a full nest of A. tennesseensis.

Manhattan, Kansas, USA

Aphaenogaster tennesseensis

Urbana, Illinois, USA

Aphaenogaster tennesseensis with eggs and young larvae. The difference in color between the two adult ants is due to their age, as ants darken over time.

Urbana, Illinois, USA

On the underside of a sun-soaked leaf, Aphaenogaster tennesseensis tending to Entylia sp. treehoppers. The treehoppers secrete sweet honeydew for the ants in exchange for protections from parasites and predators.

Lake Glendale, Illinois, USA

Aphaenogaster tennesseensis tending to Entylia sp. treehoppers. The spiky-looking bugs are the immature stages of the larger shield-shaped insects.

Lake Glendale, Illinois, USA

Portrait of a social parasite, Aphaenogaster tennesseensis.

Urbana, Illinois, USA

Portrait of a social parasite, Aphaenogaster tennesseensis.

Urbana, Illinois, USA

Portrait of a social parasite, Aphaenogaster tennesseensis.

Urbana, Illinois, USA

Canon EOS 50D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 3112x2084 |

Current: 800x536 |

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Keywords: ants insect insects formicidae myrmicinae ant queens ant queen gyne aphaenogaster tennesseensis social parasites social parasitism

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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013

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