On the left, one ant stands guard to hold off the huge threatening lens that is poking down within two inches of the tunnel entrance, but on the right, another ant is carrying out maintenance that must be done, intruder or no!
This was an extremely windy day (as it's been here for a couple of weeks--Makes macro really tough!), and small bits of dirt were being blown around and down into the tunnel even as I watched. The lens I use for these shots has a maximum focusing distance of just a couple of inches, and I was close enough and clumsy enough that occasionally I contributed a few tiny clumps of dirt myself!
The ants were a fair ways back in the tunnel, perhaps 1/4 to 1/3 inch. I could barely see them without flash. I was trying to focus on where the guard was, and saw some movement beside him, so fired blindly. This was the result.
I find it interesting that when looking at these ants head-on, the eye just barely seems to give coverage of the head-on view. I guess with antennae, who needs vision?
Pogomyrmex species, about 3x
Ants are definitely fascinating to watch.
