Pupa 'n Ants - Addendum
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
Pupa 'n Ants - Addendum
Gal pal was potting plants this afternoon when she came across a cluster of ant eggs. The potting soil was from last year. So...
Ant and eggs, Canon 1Dx with Canon MPE 65mm at 1x. Yongnuo twin macro light with printer paper for diffusion.
Same setup as above except at 2x.
I brought some eggs into the house for a focus stack. The egg on the left is 3mm. Canon 5D MK IV with Canon MPE 65mm at 3.5x, 47 steps at 110µm and my funky light setup.
The eggs were in two sizes. The smaller ones, average 3mm and the larger ones were 8mm average. I am not sure what that is all about. Same setup as previous stack except at 2x, 29 steps and 250µm.
Last edited by AlP on Thu Jul 21, 2022 7:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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rjlittlefield
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Re: Eggs 'n Ants
These are pupae. The simplest way to learn what comes out of them is to keep some captive and just wait.
My best guess right now would be that the small ones are normal workers and the large ones are reproducers.
Given the huge difference in size, I'm thinking the big ones are queens-to-be.
--Rik
My best guess right now would be that the small ones are normal workers and the large ones are reproducers.
Given the huge difference in size, I'm thinking the big ones are queens-to-be.
--Rik
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MarkSturtevant
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Re: Eggs 'n Ants
Very cool! I recently came upon a huge carpenter ant nursery with cocoons and larvae and frantic workers. But i had to destroy them, and unfortunately had no access to a camera first.
The different sized cocoons could be workers versus queens, but many ants also have different size classes of workers.
The different sized cocoons could be workers versus queens, but many ants also have different size classes of workers.
Mark Sturtevant
Dept. of Still Waters
Dept. of Still Waters
Re: Eggs 'n Ants
Thanx, Rik and Mark. Probably a reason or two on why I am not an entomologist. A) I can't read or speak Latin, B) I don't know the difference between an egg and pupa. I did save some ants and pupae for future photographic possibilities. Corrections for all my photographic misadventures always welcome (big smiley face because I hate emojis). Al.
Re: Eggs 'n Ants
Finally got around to shooting some of the "care givers" with the pupa. All images below at 2x, single shot, Canon 1Dx and Canon MPE 65mm.
Re: Pupa 'n Ants - Addendum
Absolutely wonderful images of the pupae and the overall behavior!