Don't these ants look like they're playing hide-and-seek? View larger if you want to play too! 8D
Weaver ants are known for their unique nest building behaviour. Worker ants construct nests by weaving leaves together with larval silk. Because they are highly territorial and aggressive, farmers have been known to use them as natural biocontrol agents against agricultural pests.
This picture proves my earlier point, I could not possibly get that clarity from my DSLR without spending the same amount of money again on a really good lens. It is an excellent capture once again!
@karenann Yeah, I have no EXIF info because I use a 12-year-old version of Paint Shop Pro to edit my shots. This was taken with the aperture at 6.3 and I think I had my ISO at 400. I usually keep the aperture at 6.3 unless there is not enough light. And I always have to be ridiculously close to my subject because my (30mm) macro lens has a much shorter focal length than most other macro lenses. Ridiculously close as in kissing distance close! A lot of the time, I have to stop looking at the screen and look, to check physically, and make sure I wasn't about to hit the ant/bug/flower/fungus with my lens! These ants were, for some reason, quite still. Or I wouldn't have been able to get a shot this clear. Most of the time, they are busy moving around. I don't bother taking a shot of them when they're moving. Or when there are a lot of them together, which is usually the case. When they are a lot of them together, I get creeped out and I leave them alone. XD
@monika64 The rest of the info on the cameras I use is in my profile. 8) For macro shots like this one, I use my Sony NEX-C3 (which is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera) with the Sony 30mm f/3.5 macro lens. This macro lens has a much shorter focal length than most other macro lenses and I have to get really close (kissing distance close) to the subject. Most of the time, I scare them away before I can get a good shot. 8D
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my question, Livia. What you're doing here is very impressive then ... these macros are so difficult when they are a "moving" subject. Not just a flower that behaves! Your work is amazing ... on any subject!! :)
this is giving me goosebumps! growing up, we had a big bush of hibiscus behind our house and big ants like this would always attack me whenever i pluck the leaves or flowers. they are nasty biters. great shot, yet again, livia!
A great, big, playful, bright and fun-filled "THANK YOU!" to everyone for stopping by!
Thank you for your time and visit. I find that I like shooting these ants, as long as they aren't running around in great numbers. I always look for the stray ones that have wandered off from the main group. I think these weaver ants are very photogenic. Again, thank you so much for your support, for which I am very grateful!
Wow....incredible Livia. Love this. Great macro and composition. And I'm jealous. I wanna join them in Hide-n-seek. LOL. Though I think they'd win, since I can't walk upside down.
:)
Thank you for your time and visit. I find that I like shooting these ants, as long as they aren't running around in great numbers. I always look for the stray ones that have wandered off from the main group. I think these weaver ants are very photogenic. Again, thank you so much for your support, for which I am very grateful!