I am not going after cleggs today as I have suffered enough. We were out early this morning as it is warm dry and sunny. I was sitting in the wood minding my own business when I looked down and saw my foot covered in ants. Nasty biting ants.
It is beautiful and once I’d brushed off as many ants as I could find and popped a couple into an old film can so that I could amuse myself by getting blurry images of them we carried on with our walk. I never saw the hawk but did see a goldcrest, a wren and a couple of buzzard. Needless to say I didn’t get pictures but it’s good to see them.
When I got back I thought long and hard about how to get the ants to stay in one place and eventually set up a little island for them.
Here we are with a rock, water, a coffee jar lid and the all important star of the show. I got it to climb on a cotton bud then transferred it to the stone. I must admit to having mislaid one ant but as long as it isn’t biting me I’ll not worry too much.
I tried letting it run about but it was hopeless so I popped a tiny drop of honey on the stone and that worked much better.
It pays to bribe the little devils. These are Red Ants, also known as Fire Ants; Myrmica sp. All images will enlarge with a click and now I’ll go and sort my foot out. Vicious little blighters they are.
Never experienced biting ants before, but the shots of them are superb. Those woods are so quiet and secluded.
ReplyDeleteMersad
Mersad Donko Photography
Mersad, I suspect all ants can bite but these are particularly nasty tempered. It is a wonderful wood to wander in.
DeleteWillyou go to no lengthsto get the shots! The honey was a good idea and the shots worked out well.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I'm just waiting for some bigger insects now. These are just a bit small.
DeleteIntroduced fire ants are a real problem hear in FNQ. They even look like bitey ants in your pic. The wood trail looks very warm and sunny.
ReplyDeleteCarol, it is a beautiful day. These seem to be the worst ants we have. I don't think they are a big problem here just a nuisance.
DeleteThat's a cunning stunt, Adrian! Great results! Those red ants do seem to be the most aggressive, and the most painful, of our ants, as I've found on many an occasion. It's a shame that those two characterisitics go together.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes - - - Richard
Bicarbonate of soda seems to sort the bites then a squirt of liquid Savlon.
DeleteThe little stage worked well. I'll have to try focus stacking one as the honey keeps them still.
:-) I like the first pic! Beautiful place
ReplyDeleteLaura it is I wander through it at least once a day.
DeleteMy introduction to the little b'tards made me sick to my stomach for a week, after getting five bites on my ankle jogging across an open field, shortly after moving to Florida (we didn't have the buggers in West Texas, thank goodness). Since the first dozen bites or so my body has adjusted to them...but they definitely have more evil in them per square inch than any other critter I've ever met.
ReplyDeleteR.Mac, my ankle is sore but I gave it a good wash with soap and water then slapped bicarbonate of soda on it. An hour later I am fine but I sympathise with people who are allergic to bites and stings.
DeletePath on your first image is beautiful. Would like to walk there now :)
ReplyDeleteKovacs, it is a great place to walk.
DeleteBeautiful pathway. The ant close ups are great, they are nasty little pests for sure, I have them in my garden.
ReplyDeleteGillian, they look good close up but they do bite.
DeleteGood bit of lateral thinking with the rock and then the honey.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I'll have another go with this system. It worked better than I expected.
DeleteI like your bug photography. It's not easy doing macros.....and it's cool how you set this one up. The detail with the little hairs is pretty cool. Careful where you step:)
ReplyDeleteChris, I enjoy it the set up worked well for a change.
DeletePedazo de hormiga. Parece de otro mundo ;))) Fantásticos macros Adrian!!!
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
Laura, que se ven extranjero pero han sido por mucho más tiempo que nosotros.
DeleteI understand ants and crawling over your shoes and up your pant leg, but I don't get cleggs? You really sucked the ant in with honey.
ReplyDeleteRed, it was worse than that as I was wearing sandals. Yes they like honey.
DeleteI only have to think of the green ants of my childhood to get chills. Thanks heavens there are no bitey ants in this country. Not that I know of, anyway. Seems lots of creatures are attracted to something sweet.
ReplyDeletePauline, they seem to like honey. I think my little drop was a bit too much. I'll have another go and try and get the little devils in focus.
DeleteMarvelous detail! I didn't know there were fire ants in the UK. Been bitten by bulldog ants in Aussie...
ReplyDeleteKate, I suspect that these are smaller than the Asian fire Ants. They are Red Ants but also known as Fire Ants. They are very aggressive, naughty little things.
DeleteThere are an estimated 100 trillion ants on our planet...or should I say their planet? The last picture is superb... but where's Dec?
ReplyDeleteYP, Dec did a runner. I suspect a small percentage were dashing around biting my foot.
DeleteI don't know, Adrian. You reward an ant that bites you with honey. Of course, I don't know how the play ended. :)
ReplyDeleteJohn, I let it go, soft as butter I must be.
DeleteWonderful photos, Adrian. Like your wasp, the ant seems to have a very small waist. Lucky bugger.
ReplyDeleteFrances, they have two waists, they are called something posh. I have three waists.
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