Social Insects Collection

Atta ants carrying leaves back to nest

Group of Ants

Group of wood ants attacking beetle

Ants harvesting treehopper honeydew
Ants (brown) harvesting treehopper (green) honeydew. Honeydew is a sugary substance excreted by certain insects and their larvae (here)

John Lubbock, British biologist C015 / 5809
John Lubbock (1834-1913), British biologist, archaeologist, and philanthropist. Lubbock studied social insects, devising a movable glass-sided container called a Lubbock nest to view them

Leafcutter Ants - workers dragging a piece of leaf into their underground fungus culture
PM-10679 Leafcutter Ants - workers dragging a piece of leaf into their underground fungus culture Atta sp. Pat Morris contact details: prints@ardea.com tel: +44 (0) 20 8318 1401

Leafcutter Ants - workers carrying harvested leaf fragments to their underground fungal chamber
PM-10682 Leafcutter Ants - workers carrying harvested leaf fragments to their underground fungal chamber Atta sp. Pat Morris contact details: prints@ardea.com tel: +44 (0) 20 8318 1401

Leafcutter Ants - massive soldier ant guarding the workers
PM-10680 Leafcutter Ants - massive soldier ant guarding the workers Atta sp. Pat Morris contact details: prints@ardea.com tel: +44 (0) 20 8318 1401

Hornet - UK and Europe
PM-10344 Hornet UK and Europe Vespa crabro Pat Morris Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

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Discover the fascinating world of social insects, where cooperation and collaboration reign supreme. From Atta ants carrying leaves back to their intricate underground nests, to groups of ants working together to attack and subdue a beetle, these insects never cease to amaze. John Lubbock, a British biologist of the 19th century, was among the first to study their complex behaviors. Witness the Leafcutter Ants, whose workers meticulously harvest leaves to cultivate a symbiotic fungus, and the massive soldier ants that protect them. Meanwhile, hornets in the UK and Europe form large colonies, with workers tending to their young and foraging for food. Social insects: a testament to the power of unity and the wonders of the natural world.