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Solenopsis invicta (fire ants) & Linepithema humile (Argentine ants), fighting
Texas, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2006

Two of the most damaging pest ant species worldwide are the Argentine ant L. humile (left) and the red imported fire ant S. invicta (center-right).  These two species are native to the same flood-plain habitat in the Paraná river drainage of South America.  The Paraná drainage hosts a highly competitive ant community that has produced a number of invasive ant species.  Both Argentine ants and fire ants are aggresive and fight over resources.

 
USA TX Travis Co.: Austin
140m 30º17´N 97º47´W 20.xi.2006


This image is copyrighted by the photographer and cannot be used without permission. To obtain permission to use this image, please email Alex Wild. (alwild (at) myrmecos.net).  Most of the photographs on myrmecos.net are reduced from their original size and compressed for more efficient web transmission.  In some cases, higher quality versions are available.

This image was captured with a Canon EOS 20D, using a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.