The alates are swarming!

These are American winter ants (Prenolepis imparis). The male is climbing away from its nest not quite ready to test its wings for the first time. The queen was freshly decoupled from a male. She shrugged off her wings while he was still attached. Now to find a new home. A bonus globular springtail can be seen on the same twig the queen is climbing over.

#Ant #Nature #NaturePhotography #Collemboa #Spring #Springtail