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herculean effort

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted October 27, 2009275 views6 comments

These are crazy ants (real name, not a description; Paratrechina longicornis)attempting to haul a dead tree frog up the side of a stucco building. It is amazing the coordinated effort it took to raise the frog about 10 inches to a ledge that led to their nest. They finally did it after about an hour.

Nikon D200, Sigma 180 mm
ISO 400, f/13 @ 1/160 sec
SB-800 flash dialed to +2/3
handheld

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by David Schwaegler on October 27, 2009 at 11:35 AM

Amazing

Nice sharp photo too!

Registered on December 4, 2003, 232 Posts, 1652 Comments

Comment posted by Peter May on October 27, 2009 at 12:15 PM

Are you serious? Even this many ants were able to move this frog up a vertical surface? I'm in awe.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 7 Posts, 239 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 27, 2009 at 2:37 PM

Incredible photo. Did you get any from the side or a different angle that would better illustrate they were moving the frog UP a wall?

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Katja Rosvall on October 28, 2009 at 4:54 AM

Simply amazing! Luke said what I was thinking: it'd be great to clearly see the ants are hauling their cargo upwards. There's certainly great action in the image, and a good shot too. Fantastic!

Registered on August 16, 2009, 28 Posts, 636 Comments

Comment posted by Sam Rua on November 1, 2009 at 1:08 AM

Nicely captured, Reed. Amazing creatures.

Registered on September 9, 2006, 130 Posts, 2281 Comments

Comment posted by Pete D on November 10, 2009 at 8:04 PM

I am very impressed with the final result, but, just like the teams I've worked on there seem to be three types: workers, watchers and riders. I like the arrangement of ants.

Pete D. - generally works, sometimes watches - never rides.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 590 Posts, 1794 Comments