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Green Tree Ant 2


Green Tree Ant 2
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Chafer (sandpiper2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1906 W: 107 N: 4875] (16757)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-11-04
Categories: Insects
Camera: Fujifilm Finepix S5000, Fujinon 10X zoom
Exposure: f/3.6, 1/84 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Butterflies of Australia, Australian Butterflies 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-11-25 5:25
Viewed: 5970
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In my previous post, I showed a Green Tee Ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) nest. Here the green ants have captured a Common Oakblue butterfly (Arhopala micale) and are dragging and dismembering it back to their nest. The Common Oakblue is distributed through the tropical woodlands of northern Australia.
What is interesting, is that the eggs of the butterfly are laid on leaves that the ants use for nesting and the larvae are tended and protected by the ants during their development. I have not been able to discover what advantage this symbiotic relationship has for the ants, perhaps one of you can tell us.
In the workshop shot I have enlarges a few of the ants to give you a better view of their structure (requested by 'ornis'). They are not crystal clear, but it’s the best I could do. I tired to get closer for a macro shot, but the ants jump on the camera and ran up to bite me, so this is the best I could get.
The shot was taken at Buley Rockhole in Litchfield National Park (see here for a shot of the waterhole). The shot was cropped slightly and 80% USM applied.
marhowie, red45, RAP, PDP, gerhardt has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Good one Chris.
Maybe the ants look after the eggs and larvae knowing they grow into fat juicy butterflies....or not.
They look and sound like mean critters.(You've got a lot of nasty bitey things in Oz have'nt you?)
A most interesting post.

Chris, I really like this one for its interest and reality! Very interesting note on the symbiotic relationship between the ants & this butterfly species. A great post!

Very interesting shot, it just could have been a bit more sharp.
Well done

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2004-11-25 9:56]

Great post. It is shame to say but we as a children sometimes catch butterflies and throw it to ants nest. Yes, I know, shame on me :-) Am I Hannibal Lecter or what?

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-11-25 12:42]

Tal vez la calidad de la imagen Chris no sea óptima, pero la escena es realmente impresionante.
Gran perspectiva para mostrar la suerte de la mariposa.
Excelente colorido y el aporte de la segunda imagen.

Perhaps the quality of the image Chris is not optimal, but the scene is really impressive.
Great perspective to show the luck of the butterfly.
Excellent colorful and the contribution of the second image.

Nice follow up Chris, this shows the ability of these ants to takle the bigger prey. Very well done with this unique moment you captured.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-11-25 16:22]

Great picture Chris, they certainly don't have any mercy. They do a great janitorial job clearing up the weak and the dead. The ant is one that I haven't seen before, that greeen abdomen is very odd. Very nice work, great note too.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-11-26 1:20]

These seem to be no-nonsence ants. Very well done and I like the image.

Thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • IdoTT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 210 W: 19 N: 86] (482)
  • [2004-11-26 14:29]

Great pics of the ants!
But the butterfly isnt bad also!

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