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Project Noah Nature School
Cluster of Winged ants. Black head and torax with red abdomen. I found them under a rock on Monday (Photo 1 & 2). The next 2 days they were still there (photo 3 & 4). Last photo shows the place were they were.
Semi desert, rocky landscape.
Spotted on May 26, 2014
Submitted on May 30, 2014
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These winged ants are male and female alates. Alate ants get out of the nest for the first time during summer / spring, where they fly away. This is called a nupture flight. Male alates fertilize the female alates, which chew off their wings upon landing, while males die, as they are not useful anymore. Females become queen ants and start founding their own colonies.