#argoporis

[jenfoundabug]

Black harvester ants (Veromessor pergandei) not so kindly escorting a darkling beetle (probably genus Argoporis) away from their nest. Since this kind of beetle tends to be a detrivore or scavenger, perhaps it was trying to steal food from the ants. As far as I could tell, no one was injured in this incident. The beetle seemed to have learned its lesson and did not try to return to the nest.

Mojave Desert, California, US