Formicidae Collection

Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying colourful plant matter, reflected in water, Laguna del Lagarto, Santa Rita, Costa Rica

Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying plant matter, Costa Rica

Ant, SEM
Ant. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an ant (family Formicidae). One of its compound eyes (red) is seen, as well as two long antennae that are mounted on the head between the eyes

Leaf-cutter ants carrying pieces of leaf
Leaf-cutter ants transporting neatly extracted pieces of leaf. These ants derive from the rainforests of Central and South America

Trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus chelifer) portrait, Wayqecha, Peru

Green tree ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) defending their leaf nest, Daintree River, Wet Tropics World Heritage area, Queensland, Australia

Line of Leaf-cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying leaves, digital composite

Workers of Leafcutter Ants -Atta cephalotes- carrying leaf pieces into their nest, Tambopata Nature Reserve, Madre de Dios region, Peru

Trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus hastatus) with mandibles open, Los Amigos Biological Station, Peru

Harvester ant, Messor sp. side view

Red ant, Myrmica molesta, close up

Tropical ants, SEM
Tropical ants. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of two small, tropical ants (family Formicidae, 2 millimetres long)

Fire ant
Watercolour 405 by the Port Jackson Painter, entitled Mong, from the Watling Collection

Army ant (Eciton burchellii) major soldier, Parque da Onca Parda Private Reserve, Sao Paulo, Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Brazil

Leafcutter ant (Atta sp) carrying leaf along branch, Amazonian Rainforest, Yavari Valley, Loreto, Peru

Acrobat ant (Crematogaster sp) tending aphids on white oak (Quercus sp) Washington State Park, Pennsylvania, USA September

Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying pieces of fern, reflected in water, Costa Rica

Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) close up with Ant (Formicidae) Tenerife, Canary Islands

Two Asian weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina), queens founding a new nest, tending to eggs, West Bengal, India

Namib desert dune ant (Camponotus detritus), queen on sand with visible wing scars on her thorax, Swakopmund, Namibia

Army ant (Eciton burchellii) carrying prey, Copalinga Reserve, Ecuador

Ant (Formicidae) nectaring on Geraldton waxflower (Chamelaucium uncinatum). Western Australia Botanic Garden, Kings Park, Perth, Australia. November

Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying piece of leaf, Costa Rica

Leaf-cutter ants (Atta cephalotes) carrying pieces of leaf that they have harvested back to their underground fungus garden in their nest, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Army ants (Eciton sp. ) Costa Rica. February 2015
Army ants (Eciton sp.) Costa Rica. February 2015

Ants (Formicidae) attacking newly emerged cicada (Cicadacae), Yasuni National Park, Ecuador. Highly commended in the Invertebrates Category of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards (WPOY)

Weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) holding leaves together during nest building, Malaysian Borneo

Weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) portrait, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

Leafcutter ant (Atta cephalotes) carrying pieces of leaves, Costa Rica

Ant mimicing spider in Sierra Madre National Park, Luzon, Philippines. September

Leafcutter ants (Atta sp) colony harvesting a banana leaf, Costa Rica. 3rd place in the Insects and Spiders category of the Terre Sauvage Nature Images Awards competitions 2015

Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) female worker ants carry pieces of fern leaves to nest, reflected in water, Costa Rica, December

Fire ants (Solenopsis sp. ) swarm making a raft to float in water, Texas, USA. June
Fire ants (Solenopsis sp.) swarm making a raft to float in water, Texas, USA. June

Ants (Formicidae) crawling along cactus spines to escape floodwater, Texas, USA. June

Northern hairy wood ant (Formica lugubris) workers milking aphids for honeydew, gently stroking the aphids back with its antennae, the aphid is stimulated to produce a droplet of honeydew

Swarm of Asian weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) attacking a Finger-print ant (Diacamma sp)
Swarm of Asian weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) attacking a Finger-print ant (Diacamma sp.), Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Borneo

INDO 20-07 56
Debris-carrying Lacewing larvae - being attacked by Asian Weaver Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, on stem - Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia Date: 05-Nov-04

INDO 20-07 55
Debris-carrying Lacewing larvae - being attacked by Asian Weaver Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, on stem - Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia Date: 05-Nov-04

INDO 20-06 281
Fire Ants - with larvae and pupa - Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia Date: 05-Nov-04

INDO 20-05 079
Black Ants - moving their colony carrying larvae and pupa with a newly emerged winged alate - Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia Date: 05-Nov-04

INDO 20-05 078
Black Ants - moving their colony carrying larvae and pupa - Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia Date: 05-Nov-04

Green tree ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) defending their leafy nest in a low shrub, Cooktown, Queensland, Australia

Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus and Formicidae (ant)
Thor Hakonsen

Wood ant (Formica rufa) on Waxcap fungus (Hygrocybe sp). Buckinghamshire, England, UK. November. Focus stacked image

Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying plant matter, Costa Rica

Bullet ant (Paraponera clavata) with prey, lowland rainforests, Southeastern Nicaragua. August

Leafcutter ants (Atta sp) colony harvesting pieces of a banana leaf, Costa Rica

Army ant (Eciton sp. ) soldier, Costa Rica. February 2015
Army ant (Eciton sp.) soldier, Costa Rica. February 2015

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

Formicidae, commonly known as ants, are fascinating creatures that exhibit remarkable strength and teamwork. In Costa Rica, leaf-cutter ants (Atta sp) can be seen tirelessly carrying plant matter, showcasing their impressive ability to transport loads much larger than themselves. These industrious insects form long lines as they march together, each ant diligently contributing to the task at hand. The intricate details of an ant's anatomy are revealed in a scanning electron microscope image. The precision and complexity of their body structure highlight their adaptability and efficiency in various environments. Digital composites capture the mesmerizing sight of a line of leaf-cutter ants gracefully carrying leaves through lush landscapes. In Laguna del Lagarto, the vibrant colors of plant matter carried by leaf cutter ants create a stunning reflection in water. This harmonious blend between nature and these tiny workers showcases the beauty found within even the smallest ecosystems. Traveling further into Tambopata Nature Reserve in Peru reveals another species of leafcutter ants - Atta cephalotes - diligently transporting pieces of leaves into their nest. Their unwavering dedication to building and maintaining their colony is truly awe-inspiring. The trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus hastatus) exhibits its unique defense mechanism with mandibles wide open at Los Amigos Biological Station in Peru. These powerful jaws serve not only for protection but also for capturing prey swiftly and efficiently. A side view of Messor sp. , commonly known as harvester ant, displays its distinctive features while going about its daily activities. Its strong presence reminds us that every creature has an important role to play in our ecosystem. Zooming closer into Myrmica molesta or red ant reveals intricate patterns on its exoskeleton when observed up close. Such attention to detail highlights the diversity present among different species within Formicidae family. Examining tropical ants under a scanning electron microscope unveils astonishing textures and structures on their bodies.