Bugs, bees and beasties- Bio-diversity matters

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Thats VERY cool david, you did well to get so close without it sloping off.

[David Humphries]

Formica rufa - Southern wood ant.

 

The woodland floor was literaly moving.

 

Also Fuligo septica - dog vomit slime mold, on the top of a massive nest, showing older layers and a fresh developing one.

 

Would be interesting to find out if there is any mutual relationship between ant & mould, beyond simple transportation.

 

.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Interesting post david, i notice they are stripping the web of a caterpillar from the tree!

 

I watched a natures swarms program last night, would seem the ants are a valued asset in the community as they can harvest 100,000 insects a day, from the tiny, right up to scorpions! So they allow the ants to enter thier homes on thier daily raids.

 

Inclusionality is something natives seem to have inbuilt.

 

I just did a search for ants and find wiki has a superb page on these great insects.

 

well worth a look http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant

Edited June 20, 2010 by Tony Croft aka hamadryad

[nepia]

Came horribly close to getting this crittur with the spade a couple of hours ago; was keeping cool just under the surface of a pile of dry earth. Sorry about the focussing; still getting to grips with the new camera, which is supposed to autofocus.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

An albino toad! wow, rocking horse manure!

[Kat1e]

Sorry not very clear shots!

[chris cnc]

i need a macro lens just for this thread!!! but here you go anyway...

[Bundle 2]

Sorry not very clear shots!

 

On the contrary, these are great photos.

There are a few Arbtalkers who seem to know their way around a camera and post quality images. They make for fine threads.

[Kat1e]

Thank you that's very kind of you. I'd still love an slr though, or at least something better than my £60 kodak compact!

[Kat1e]

Hundreds of these around at the moment...