Aphid Round Up

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:12 pm

As usual, now a days weather permiting, on my luch break I go out and shot macro; just to get out of the plant to relax a bit and get some scenery along with some fresh air. It just so happend I came across these ants corralling aphids on a weed.

salden · Post by **salden** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:15 pm

beautiful images Ken. That little guy on the first image, in the top left side...he looks like he is doing a cartwheel or something

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:18 pm

He's a bit out of focus but like me, I guess, they stick their little butts up in the air when eating.

Thanks Sue.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:27 pm

#2 is a nice angle -- talk about your basic Overlord image!

--Rik

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:39 pm

Rik commented:

#2 is a nice angle -- talk about your basic Overlord image!

Does have a bit of a domineering swagger, doesn't he.

Hee..yah...! Get along little aphids.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:53 am

Suck that sap..suck that sap

They all look like they are standing on thir heads. I have never seen ants like that one in the third pic, very different abdomen (bicolor). All three pictures are super Ken

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:58 pm

Thanks Doug, the third image of that ant is a curiosity. I like the second one myself, the ant looks overpowering compared to the small aphids. As Rik mentioned, a classic "overlord" image. Maybe Gordon might see these and ID that ant in the third image. I noticed on some of the ants, I have a couple of other shots, they appear to have a beard. Like this one for example.

Either it has a beard or a mouth full of aphids

. I notice the ants drumming the aphids abdomens for honeydew and picking them up and moving a few of them around. Thanks again Doug!

nephiliim · Post by **nephiliim** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:05 pm

HIT 'EM UP, MOVE 'EM OUT!!!

Really nice ones here Ken, just the right scale, keeps it overseeable.

all the best

Tom B

Mike B in OKlahoma · Post by **Mike B in OKlahoma** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:17 pm

Yippee ki-yi-yi, get along little doggie!

I like the acrobatic ant in the third shot.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 5:08 pm

Thanks Mike, TomB

I was pleased with how all of them turned out, however, my favorite is number two, the overlord. That third one, as Doug pointed out, is an unusual ant. I have never seen any like this before but of course I have never paid ants much attention until now.

Adrian · Post by **Adrian** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:25 am

nice photographs ken, i like the first one as you can see the ant on the left very well, you can look him in the eye. that is pretty funny how all those wee little ones stick around the big ones.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:38 am

Adrian commented:

that is pretty funny how all those wee little ones stick around the big ones.

The smaller or little ones are aphids, I watched these ants for a while as they would come up behind the aphids and "drum" their abdomens with their antennae to get the aphids to release the honeydew. Thanks Adrian.