Patterns exist everywhere in nature. The venation patterns of the leaf are an especially pretty interesting pattern. When I saw Common Broad Acrobat Ant (Crematogaster subnuda) on the broad leaf of one of the most widely occurring early successional woody species in my garden, Macaranga peltata, my initial instinct was to take a closeup macro. … Read more
We’ve all have heard of the comfort zone, but did you know there are two other zones? Tom Senninger explained a helpful model of two other zones. According to him, there are three zones. Comfort, Learning & Panic zone. In order to learn we have to explore and venture out into the unknown. We already … Read more
The relationship between aphids and ants is symbiotic in that both receive some benefit from the arrangement. Animals and plants in a mutually symbiotic arrangement with ants are called Myrmecophiles. I saw this group of White Footed Ants Technomyrmex albipes, on the plant tending aphids. Here I have used Canon EOS 5DS R coupled with … Read more
I found this very active Bi-coloured Arboreal ant, Tetraponera rufonigra in my garden. Since it was moving around quite fast, I had to literally chase it to capture it. I used Canon EOS 5DS R with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens. This was illuminated by Canon MT-24EX macro twin light flash. Tetraponera … Read more
Who would consider ants farmers? Farmer is not a vocation naturally assigned to these tiny insects. The fact is that they herd and care for aphids to keep a much-loved food in constant supply. Aphids and ants on plants are as interdependent as Idli & sambar. I saw this Camponotus Ant on the underside of … Read more
I found these major workers of Weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) hunting a nymph of a cockroach. As these nymphs grow they are compelled to moult their cuticle, a process known as Ecdysis. After moulting, an arthropod is described as teneral, a callow; it is fresh, pale and soft-bodied. They are pretty vulnerable to attack by … Read more