The Queen is looking for a Home

[beetleman]

This is a picture of a queen red ant (I just call them red ants, they do have a black abdomen). The workers are very aggressive when you mess with them...they bite, and swing their abdomens around and try to spray formic acid at you in streams that shoot pretty far for an ant. I have seen them build ant highways through my lawn in very clean paths, moving anything that might slow them down. I have also seen them attack black ant nest in great masses and carry away larvae and pupa and adult ants back to their nest.

[Ken Ramos]

Some mighty fine shoot'n there Doug. Really like the composition and the more or less up in ya face type of thing. I did not know that ants could spray you with that stuff, well from any distance that is. Kind'a like skunks ain't they?

[rjlittlefield]

This is beautifully done -- smooth textures, good focus, excellent composition -- very much an "in the scene" feel.

At first glance, that big light rock on the right was a bit distracting, but after a few seconds, it turned into a "cliff" that further enhances the feel of being little and right down there with the ant.

I like this a lot!

--Rik

[salden]

Nice sharp, detailed image Doug. Very nice.

[Mike B in OKlahoma]

I have also seen them attack black ant nest in great masses and carry away larvae and pupa and adult ants back to their nest.

What?!?! And you haven't shared the pics with us!? SHAME!!!! :-) That's something I've always wanted to photograph.

I've done more than my share of ant pics, and this is a good one. Glare is much less severe than most of mine, and the angle is wonderful. This must be fairly late in her journey of exploration, she's already tugged or bitten off her wings. I hope she made it to a good home.

[Gordon C. Snelling]

Beautiful shot the genus on this ant is Formica.

[jaharris1001]

very nice shot Doug!! Caught in action,, nice comp and lighting as well