On top of the world by bella_ss

On top of the world

I took this a couple of days ago. It's a ripe wild passionfruit (at least that's what I've always known it as). These cute little guys were all over them. Once I got close they would turn away.
Fun shot! Awesome focus too :)
January 17th, 2011  
Great shot! What strange but cute looking bugs!!!
January 17th, 2011  
Great capture! Maybe they are camera shy.
January 17th, 2011  
nice shot!
January 17th, 2011  
Amazing, cute and humourous all in one! Interesting bugs these.
January 17th, 2011  
now then, this is great. the colour composition is superb and the macro...awesome!
January 17th, 2011  
@craigdtull @bremi @tamer @kianti @ycampbell @9gpie
They are strange :) Thanks for looking.
January 17th, 2011  
Wow - love this macro! I've never seen insects like this before. Wonder what they are?
January 18th, 2011  
Love the color and the detail....I think I say that about each one of your photos.....I'll try to say something new in the future, but really, the detail and colors in all of your shots are amazing!
January 18th, 2011  
@russianblue I have tried to find out what they are, they are weird but I really like them. They are very ant-like but they don't have a nest like ants.
January 18th, 2011  
@poggy1818 It's kind of you to comment Dana, I don't mind repetition ;)
January 18th, 2011  
Very intriguing. I lived in the tropics for years and never saw these. Would also love to know more about the passionfruit. Did you taste it? Haven't come across those either.
Oh, and I love the shot. That top one is posed beautifully. They certainly look like some kind of ant. Maybe someone at the uni could tell you.
January 18th, 2011  
they're Assassin Bug nymphs... maybe even Bee Killer Assassin Bug nymphs (Pristhesancus plagipennis).

And wild Passionfruit are tasty, albeit very small. I used to eat them in PNG and here in Townsville.

Cool photo by the way!
January 18th, 2011  
@bobfoto I wondered if you would know what the bugs were.
I eat the occasional wild passionfruit but they're hardly worth the effort ;)
January 18th, 2011  
@girlie Thanks Robin. Jason has identified the bugs, I hope they don't kill bees. The passionfruit is edible but only about 2cm long at the most.
January 18th, 2011  
@bella_ss - they tend to eat the native bees, those little black fellas without a stinger. They will lick your sweat!

The adult Assassin bugs are worth photographing too, I'll be keeping an eye on your project looking for one shortly!
January 18th, 2011  
@bobfoto When I find one you'll be able to tell me what it is. We used to have the native bees in a hollow in our tamarind tree.
January 18th, 2011  
@bella_ss - I've seen Assassin bugs attacking the hives of the native bees, but never decimate a colony... Your bees may have moved on?
January 19th, 2011  
@bobfoto Probably did. I went back and looked at the bugs on the passionfruit and see they are now at all different stages, they're not so cute when they're grown. I don't like that they kill the ladybirds either. They are quickly losing their appeal.
January 19th, 2011  
@bella_ss - count your spots on your ladybirds, if they have 28 spots, then let the Assassins feed!
January 19th, 2011  
love this one !!
January 20th, 2011  
Holy Macro! Great shot.
January 20th, 2011  
@flamez @loriromp Thanks ;)
January 20th, 2011  
OMG ants with spikes!! yikes :)
January 22nd, 2011  
Fantastic detail!
January 25th, 2011  
Nice capture and focus. They are interesting looking bugs.
February 6th, 2011  
WOOOOOOOOOOW!! what a capture!!! i have never seen those lil ant looking bugs before! they sure are interesting!!! awesome photo!!!
June 3rd, 2011  
@kdimagery They are very cool little dudes at this stage, unfortunately they kill some of the good guys.
June 3rd, 2011  
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