Tawny Collared Ant Aphaenogaster fulva

This tawny-colored ant is a common sight across eastern North America, quietly going about the essential business of foraging and colony-building in forests and gardens alike. Aphaenogaster species are versatile generalists, feeding on a diverse diet of small arthropods, plant material, seeds, and whatever else they encounter. Unlike aggressive fire ants or territorial carpenter ants, these medium-sized workers are relatively docile and form the ecological backbone of forest and garden ecosystems from the Atlantic coast to the Great Plains. You've probably walked past hundreds of their colonies without noticing the intricate networks beneath your feet.