This wasp was ovipositing in some insect hidden behind the curl of the petal (sepal) on a heliconia plant. This chalcid is like a 1/4 the size of a grain of rice. If I have this ID'ed correctly, this is an aphid parasitoid, but it looked like it was ovipositing in a mealybug.
#Proctotrupomorph #Chalcid #Pteromalidae #Pachyneurinae #Photography #Nature #Insects #SriLanka #Insects #InsectInteraction
A super tiny parasitoid wasp investigating some possible host scale insects.
#nature #Photography #Wasp #Insects #Parasitoid #Chalcid #SriLanka #InsectInteraction
And now for some more ants! I spent years and years of my life studying wasps but I can't ever find them when I'm holding my camera. But hey, ants are still awesome. The one on the right must have found something delicious as she is sharing it through trophallaxis (aka the kiss of life? do ant experts really use this?) with her sister. I presume these are shiny acrobat ants but would love a correction.
#Insects #Nature #Photography #Ant #Oklahoma #Crematogaster #laeviuscula #InsectInteraction
Lunch time. A cute jumper snacking on a fly.
#Carrhotus #Salticidae #Araneae #SriLanka #Spiders #InsectInteraction
What these friendly guys? Ok, so not the same, but closely related Asian weaver ants. These ants are bold and a bit crazy. I've had one jump from a tree and land on my leg where it buried its mandibles. I've really enjoyed getting to know these ants. They have such big personalities! I have also seen one jump a tiny gap chasing a spider. I wish I would have been filming to know for sure.
#Tetraponera #rufonigra #Oecophylla #smaragdina #Ants #Formicidae #SriLanka #InsectInteraction
Seems appropriate at the moment.
This Large Oakblue caterpillar being tended by its Weaver ant overlords.
This photo won me my first weaver ant battle scar. ...not my caterpillar clearly
#Arhopala #amantes #Oecophylla #smaragdina #SriLanka #Insects #Arthropods #Lepidoptera #Ants #Formicidae #InsectInteraction
Asian Weaver Ants tending a Lycaenid caterpillar (Tailless Line Blue perhaps)
This is the best I could do with the MP-E. These ladies don't appreciate visitors and it was a breezy day.
I will have to try to find more of these with a wider lens. Any suggestions on good cheap wide angle macro for R mounts?
#SriLanka #Ants #Formicidae #Oecophylla #smaragdina
#Butterfly #Lycaenidae #Prosotas #dubiosa #Insect #InsectInteraction
If you know who this couple in congress are, please tell me. I believe they are something akin to an Odorous House Ant, but not really sure. I need to find some good resources on the local ants. The male kept readjusting himself as if it were with great difficulty their union was formed. They were both feet down on the glass tail to tail to start. Then he seemed to corkscrew himself in...
#Formicidae #Ants #SriLanka #InsectInteraction #NeverHomeAlone #Dolichoderinae
Daily life of the Asian Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina). First, a couple of cute sisters. These inquisitive ladys had to poke their heads out to see what was approaching their nests. Moments later they were lined up with mandibles wide and abdomens flinging formic acid at me. But it started cute and intimate.
Next, an attentive farmer wondering why I am getting so close to its cattle.
#SriLanka #Ants #Formicidae #InsectInteraction #ShelterBuilding
The first photo is another spider from today that actually looks much more like the asian weaver ants. The second photo is a weaver ant from the colony where it was seen. Perhaps it should be a start to a new thread... Oh well. I have lots of weaver ant photos now.
#Ants #Formicidae #Spider #Spiders #SriLanka #Mimicry #InsectInteraction
Ben S