x2 images. Double click to enlarge.
Ths is the Small Black Ant Lasius niger milking the Small Willow Aphid (Aphis farinosa) for its poop, which is pure honey to them – honeydew. Even waste doesn’t go to waste.
Kingdom of The Ants
x2 images. Double click to enlarge.
Ths is the Small Black Ant Lasius niger milking the Small Willow Aphid (Aphis farinosa) for its poop, which is pure honey to them – honeydew. Even waste doesn’t go to waste.
Nature Journeys 
Fascinating. 🙏🏻
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Thank you 🙂
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Wow ! Great shots 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Oh, these are excellent, Pete. What great captures of this mutualistic behavior. Only humans waste. Nature recycles everything.
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Thank you, Steve! 🙂 Ants have always fascinated me from when I was a child, and I am continually amazed by them.
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Definitely one of your best pictures of a spectacular interaction in the insect world. The first has a perspective that says it all!
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I really appreciate that, Hans, thank you 🙂 These are amazing insects to observe in ther own little kingdom.
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I second Hans’s comment. These are cracking shots.
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Many thanks, Ark! One of those lucky moments when he turned to the camera and said “Cheese” 🙂
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.. and soon after called his mates and stole the cheese!
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Fina närbilder.
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Thank you 🙂
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Wow two amazing images!
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Thank you, Brian! 🙂
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Amazing pics and info from the Kingdom of Ants!!🐜
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Many thanks, Indira 🙂
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You never cease to amaze – wonderfully clear shots.
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Many thanks, Anne 🙂
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Nice shots, I especially like the angle on the first one.
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Thank you, David! One of those lucky moments 🙂
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Fine photos, Pete!
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Many thanks, Belinda 🙂
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Fantastic images!
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Thank you 🙂
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Awesome photos, Pete!
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Thank you, Eliza 🙂
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Fantastic detailed captures, Pete! Wow on those pinchers. The color variation in that sea of aphids is interesting, too.
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Than you, Ellen 🙂 It was a lucky shot the way he turned to the camera and opened those jaws.
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Amazing, especially the first picture.
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Thank you very much 🙂
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Fantastic shots! I am astonished about the variety of colours with the aphids!
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Thank you very much! 🙂
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Wow that’s some lens you have there Peter 🙂
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Thank you, Julie 🙂 There are 2 lenses. The Sigma 105 mm macro lens on which I clip a Raynox MSN-202 which gets me even closer with hardly any cropping. This was a lucky moment as he turned to face me 🙂
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Wonderful peeks into their tiny world Peter!
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Thank you, Thomas! I always enjoy looking at the world from their point of you 🙂
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