At this time of year the Prunus trees, and certain others which must have sweet flowers, become highways for Prenolepis imparis ants. There is a line of ants going upwards, and another one of repletes coming down fat with nectar.
Found a few Ponera pennsylvanica under a rock in the garden! These curious ants are small and sinuous and slender, so at first glance they seem almost worm-like, like rove beetles (Staphylinidae), quite unlike the Crematogaster I usually see.
Apparently there's an ant war going on in my yard! 3mm or so in size there are clearly two types of ants going at it, I thought it was one group gathering food but nope, that's a war! Also that's what a Canon 180mm L macro lens can do in terms of depth, I can follow one tiny ant as it runs about using the focal ring only. The pic on the bottom has the two ants fighting but it's focused a couple of millimeters past them, the one on top brings them into focus.
Daily life of the Asian Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina). First, a couple of cute sisters. These inquisitive ladys had to poke their heads out to see what was approaching their nests. Moments later they were lined up with mandibles wide and abdomens flinging formic acid at me. But it started cute and intimate.
Next, an attentive farmer wondering why I am getting so close to its cattle.