hilltopping ants

August 11, 2021summit of Yellow Aster Butte, Mt. Baker WildernessWhatcom County, Washington

Coordinates: 48.95449,-121.68188 (click for map)
hilltopping ants (Formica aserva) [summit of Yellow Aster Butte, Mt. Baker Wilderness, Whatcom County, Washington]
Filename: 20210811-131741.jpg 800x600 pixels, ISO 250, f5.0 @ 1/1250 sec
Formica aserva

The big red one is a queen. The ants gather on high points to mate and then fly off to start new colonies.

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