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Formica rufa


Formica rufa
Photo Information
Copyright: Robi rdfoto (rdfoto) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 372 W: 0 N: 719] (3295)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-02
Categories: Insects
Camera: canon, MP-E 65, SanDisk CFExtreme4gb
Exposure: f/16, 1/100 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-06-15 6:17
Viewed: 4758
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Formica rufa, also known as the southern wood ant or horse ant, is a boreal member of the Formica rufa group of ants, commonly found throughout southern England in both coniferous and broad leaf broken woodland and parkland. They are the largest native ant species of the British isles, workers can measure from 8-10 mm in length. They have large mandibles and like many other higher ant species are able to dispense formic acid from their abdomens as a defence. Formic acid has been collected from a large number of formica rufus ant being crushed up and distilled by John Ray, an English naturalist, in 1671.
A common diet for a wood ant colony is invertebrates found around the nest, particularly aphids harvested from the surrounding trees, although they are voracious scavengers. Nests of these ants are large, conspicuous, dome-shaped edifices, usually situated in woodland clearings, where the sun's rays can reach them. F. rufa is commonly used in forestry and is often introduced into an area as a form of pest management.
F. rufa is highly polygynous and often re-adopts post-nuptial queens from its own mother colony, leading to old, multi gallery nests which may contain well over a hundred egg-producing females. These colonies can often measure several metres in height and diameter. Formica rufa is aggressively territorial, and will often attack and remove other ant species from the area. Nuptial flights take place during the springtime and are often marked by savage battles between neighbouring colonies as territorial boundaries are re-established.
The species can also establish nests using the mechanism of temporary social parasitism, the hosts being species of the Formica fusca group, notably F. fusca and F. lemani, although incipient F. rufa colonies have also been recorded from nests of F. glebaria, F. cunnicularia and similar species including the Lasius genus.
Argus, mariki, nglen, vanderschelden, maurydv, marhowie, anel, Maite, extramundi, SelenE, gracious, valy67, hester, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2008-06-15 7:13]

Bonjour Robi,
A great close macro of a Wood Ant with fine sharpness, lighting and details, from a great POV and nicely composed.
Not often we see such a close image of an ant1
TFS this excellent contribution,
Amicalement, Ivan

Bonjour Robi,

Très bonne macro de cette fourmi rouge. Très belle composition et superbes détails. Excellente lumière et couleurs.
Bonne journée,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • tigy (98)
  • [2008-06-15 7:54]

WOOW, belle photo et quel détail. ca doit pas être facile de les photographiés, vu la vitesse de ces petites bêtes.

Salutations
manu

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-06-15 9:15]

Hi Robi. This macro at its best. You have managed to show us the fine details of the Ant. Sharp focusing with natural colours. well done TFS.
Nick.. Good notes too.

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 293 N: 4497] (16383)
  • [2008-06-15 10:18]

Hello Robi,
achieving good pictures of ants is a difficult task. So, I admire your result.
Even the faint bristles on the ant's head are clearly visible.
Best wishes, Peter

Well done, Robi.
I like the colours (almost monchromatic, bvery good tones), the DOF, the composition,...
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2249 W: 65 N: 4205] (13972)
  • [2008-06-15 12:26]

Bonjour Robi,
Focus, sharpness, details and POV are very nice. Merci
Selen

Spettacolare macro, impressionante DOF in relazione al rapporto d'ingrandimento, eccellente nitidezza e definizione dei dettagli, molto belli i colori e la luce del flash crea una bella luminosità. Grazie e complòimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hi Robi,
Excellent ant macro, ultra fine details for one so small.
Very good DOF, color, and exposure.
Great POV too, showing the ants best side :)
Howard

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 778 W: 67 N: 645] (6814)
  • [2008-06-15 22:40]

Bonjour,
Intéressante leçon de chose.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2008-06-16 0:20]

Bonjour Robi,
Félicitations pour cette image réussie d'une "adorable" petite fourmi. Pas facile de bien les photographier. J'aime beaucoup la petite lueur dans les yeux de l'insecte. Ta notice explicative est aussi excellente. J'ai une fourmilllière près de mon chalet et je crois bien que c'est la même espèce.
Bonne journée et merci aussi de tes gentilles critiques.
A bientôt
Anne

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 998 W: 65 N: 1270] (5199)
  • [2008-06-16 7:07]

Hello Robi
It's not very usual to find here so good macros on these little insects! This is a magnificent one. Splendid details and very good POV, DOF and composition.
My compliments and best regards
Maite

Anyone who has ever tryed to get a good photo of an ant, knows how difficult it is to obtain this quality with such a MAGNIFICATION :)
Fantastic, you did really get into the ants world.
Regards, Felipe.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2008-06-17 8:59]

Hi Robi,
Outstanding shot of this Wood Ant with immaculate sharpness and details. Nice colours and great handling of natural lighting. I like the natural setting. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-17 20:57]

Hello Robi

What a super macro of this ant.
The details are excellent.
Wonderful pov and dof.
The colours are natural.
Very up close and personal.
TFS
Rob

Ciao Robi, superb macro of little ant with amazing details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Bonjour Robi,
Many thanks for the great informative notes regarding this Wood Ant!
This is a very fine and perfect macro with such closeness!
total in sharpness, nice colour and details
you had achieved the best exposure and focus
well done
merci
Tony

Hi Robi,

I love the detail that you have captured here - it really is pin sharp and the pov and dof are perfect. Fascinating to look at.

Mike

bonjour robi
ah le MP-E65!!un objectif de reve a ce que je vois mais un peu cher aussi!!
le resultat est magnifique.
bravo.
laurent

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1727 W: 59 N: 3060] (9219)
  • [2008-06-29 13:05]

Bonjour Robi !
Wow, quel gros-plan impressionnant sur cette fourmi rousse ! On en voit souvent dans les bois, mais elles sont si petites, alors que là on en voit tous les détails, même les petits poils ! :-) J'adore sa pose, debout si fièrement sur sa branche de bois. La composition et le POV sont super, c'est vraiment très réussi. Bravo !!!
Valérie.

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2008-07-17 12:43]

Hi Robi

What a wonderful close up view of this ant. I love the POV here, the wonderful colours and the perfect DOF. It is great

TFS

Karan

Hello Robi!
Very nice capture of so small object! :) I like this close-up a lot.
Anyway, did you know that the term "Formica rufa" includes (in broader sense of course) not 1 but 4 different species? They are really difficult to recognize :)
All the best from Poland,
Radomir

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