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View Full Version : Mating Ants????

dpastern
13th of May 2007 (Sun), 08:22
Not sure if this is a queen ant mating with a male...

here's the 2 at it...

http://david.dia.net.au/potn/ants/CRW_1412.jpg

And the male after the event...

http://david.dia.net.au/potn/ants/CRW_1414.jpg

Dave

edit: the male was taken at 1:1. You can see the female was quite large, probably around 13mm by my calculations...they were mating on one of our garbage bins.
LordV
13th of May 2007 (Sun), 08:49
Good captures Dave- looks like "flying" ants mating. These are quite fun if you can find the nest where they originated- the normal ants really escort the fliers and force them into taking off.
Brian V.
Cactuspic
13th of May 2007 (Sun), 08:54
Intersting shots, Dave. I was under the misimpression that only the queens had wings.

Irwin
dpastern
14th of May 2007 (Mon), 04:17
Good captures Dave- looks like "flying" ants mating. These are quite fun if you can find the nest where they originated- the normal ants really escort the fliers and force them into taking off.
Brian V.

Really? Any particular reason for this?

Irwin, I'm taking a guess that it was Ants. I had no real idea!

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Dave
Lawrie B
14th of May 2007 (Mon), 05:52
Excellent shots Dave
DaveBinks
14th of May 2007 (Mon), 06:13
Really? Any particular reason for this?

Irwin, I'm taking a guess that it was Ants. I had no real idea!

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Dave
To the best of my knowledge the purpose of having flying queens and consorts is to set up new colonies.
Dalantech
14th of May 2007 (Mon), 07:40
Excellent shots Dave -the composition and detail are superb!! :cool:
LordV
14th of May 2007 (Mon), 09:07
Really? Any particular reason for this?


Dave
Well you always get the impression that they are nervous fliers and don't really want to take off- the rest of the colony just make sure they do :)
Brian V.
lcpete
14th of May 2007 (Mon), 11:33
Superb shots Dave
Pete
photobitz
14th of May 2007 (Mon), 21:58
I have a similar looking species in my area except they (queens) are generally about 30mm long. The soldiers are about 35-40mm with mandibles you would not want to become a target of. I've been meaning to take some pictures...
dpastern
16th of May 2007 (Wed), 04:29
Thanks for the kind words guys :) :)

Brian - you made me laugh with your last comment, thank you. The 'queen'/female looked a very confident flier to me. The male didn't look too much of a slouch either.

Dan - be careful! Ant bites can hurt like hell!

Dave
photobitz
16th of May 2007 (Wed), 16:33
LOL! I know... been there before once or twice!
LindaB
16th of May 2007 (Wed), 16:46
Love #1 and how lucky were you to get to shoot against that fabulous background colour.

Linda