The wet season marks a distinct change in the seasons, as many trees and flowers fruit, and animals breed in response to the abundance of food.
A canopy ant (Daceton armigerum) removes water, drop by drop from its flooded nest:
Insects too, like these colourful, aptly named rainbow katydids (Vestria sp.) are in breeding mode:
Carpenter ants communicating via trophollaxis (food/nutrient exchange):
A narrow-mouthed frog (Microhylidae) hovers over an ant hole, its narrowed head is perfect for wedging itself deep into ant nests and picking off ants with its small sticky tongue:
Termites mounds aren't static, but rather function much like a city, with traffic being redirected through new galleries in response to environmental conditions like flooding, obstructions, etc...New openings are also made in response to lunar cycles, which function as cues for the nuptial flights of alates (reproductive winged males/females):
Though it may not seem like much in the above photo, there's a reason why they have to open up many new runways...A swarm inundates my flashlight left for no longer than a couple minutes on the ground:
This swarm provides an abundance of food for the vertebrate and invertebrate communities:
A cockroach steals salts from a sleeping collared tree lizard (Plica plica):
Thanks for looking and commenting,
Paul
