Darwinian Mechanics
Posted by Dean Bradshaw | Filed under Wildlife Photography
A girl less often found on a grey seamless than your typical rosy-cheeked model…
These Bulldog Ants (Myrmecia spp.) are both ferocious predators and exceedingly alert. Their large eyes afford excellent vision and as such they are eternally vigilant for both prey and intruders. This little girl (ants, like bees reproduce through parthenogenesis and accordingly the workers are all female.) was difficult to deal with – photographed with two lights on a ready-made cyclorama formed from a sheet of crisp laserjet paper. They are the largest ants in Australia, and some species can be in excess of 40mm in length! these ones were around 25mm, toting disproportionately enormous mandibles and a potent sting which they use to subdue prey and fend off predators.
This image is actually about 2 years old. I decided to reprocess and upload it mostly as a reminder to myself of a subject that really is important to me…
If you’d like to read more about these ants, check out a brilliant article featured in National Geographic that deals with them and their fascinating lifestyles, here.
Also, for more macro photos of an enormous array of Perth’s local invertebrate fauna – including more images of these ants, check out two of my good friends and their photostreams here and here. Most of what I know about ants I have learnt from these guys – both incredibly enthusiastic about these diminutive creatures.
