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The Hooded Claw
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« on: August 31, 2010, 02:00:09 PM » |
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I do nature photography, in particular photography of "bugs" as a hobby. In a discussion in the cartoons thread in the Writer's Cafe, it was suggested that I should post some here. After I made some perfunctory protests about how nobody wanted to see photos of bugs, I am relenting....So here are a couple of my bug pictures. I also have a lot of snake photos, and I'll eventually publish one of those here, after which I'm sure I will be permanently banned from this forum!  Anyway, this is a shot of what we called "Red Ants" when I was growing up. They are fairly large ants, notable for their bright red color and a nasty sting. They are more properly known as harvester ants, because they live off of seeds that they gather up and bring back to their nest. And the truly proper name for them is pogonomyrmex, the name of the genus they belong to. As I mentioned, ants gather up seeds and bring them back to their nest where the seeds not eaten at once are stored for future use. Of course, since ants are not well-known for their brains, sometimes the worker ants bring back things that aren't seeds. Many of these are screened out by careful examination at the nest entrance, and you can often see accumulations of pine tree pieces and other nonedible stuff there. This worker is bringing back something that appears to be a sliver of quartz! It won't be edible, but I'm sure she took satisfaction in a hard day's work anyhow!  And here is a 100% crop of the above picture. Note the fingerprint-like ridges on the ant's exoskeleton. Also some neat details of the ant's eye.  |
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Laurie
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« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2010, 02:14:29 PM » |
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Wow! What kind of camera did you use?
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scarlet
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« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2010, 02:23:37 PM » |
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more bugs! skip the snake.
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Chris J. Randolph
Status: Jane Austen
 Online
Gender: 
Rocklin, CA
Posts: 286
Piloting Alien Spaceships
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« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2010, 03:51:55 PM » |
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That's f*&@ing awesome! I love insects (and wildlife in general), so please keep 'em coming.  |
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terryr
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« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2010, 04:01:48 PM » |
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Beautiful. And I love snakes. Even if you don't post them here, I hope you post them somewhere.
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I need more coffee.
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Belle2Be
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« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2010, 08:02:13 PM » |
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Wow beautiful!!!! More more!!!
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CegAbq
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« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2010, 08:04:58 PM » |
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I am incredibly impressed. Want to see more! and bring on the snakes.
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Carol in 'burque Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cegarnerFind me on Skype: c.garner.abq Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to Skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and shouting: d*mn-What a ride! |
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winslowgirl
Status: Dr. Seuss
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Posts: 1
The Bargain by Jacqueline Winslow
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« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2010, 07:26:03 AM » |
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My daughter who is 13, is an amateur photographer... This picture of the ant is beyond beautiful, and I don't even like ants! You did a beautiful job on this picture. I can't wait to see some of your snake pictures, and I hate snakes!
Jackie
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BTackitt
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« Reply #9 on: September 01, 2010, 11:45:51 AM » |
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THC that's amazing! and if you start a thread with ***WARNING SNAKES INSIDE*** those that don't like them can walk away, while those of us who do.. can drool at your photos!
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CegAbq
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« Reply #10 on: September 01, 2010, 12:05:19 PM » |
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THC that's amazing! and if you start a thread with ***WARNING SNAKES INSIDE*** those that don't like them can walk away, while those of us who do.. can drool at your photos!
Great idea |
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Carol in 'burque Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cegarnerFind me on Skype: c.garner.abq Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to Skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and shouting: d*mn-What a ride! |
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JL Bryan
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« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2010, 12:25:34 PM » |
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Great pictures! I'd like to see more of these |
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Tamster
Status: Dr. Seuss
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« Reply #12 on: September 01, 2010, 01:52:04 PM » |
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WOW! Great pictures..keep 'em coming.
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B-Kay 1325
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« Reply #13 on: September 01, 2010, 02:33:23 PM » |
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THC that's amazing! and if you start a thread with ***WARNING SNAKES INSIDE*** those that don't like them can walk away, while those of us who do.. can drool at your photos!
I for one wholeheartedly agree with this request!! I have an adversion to snakes and have been known to throw books across the room when taken by surprise by a photo. They totally creep me out. The pictures of the ant is amazing, who knew they have fur? |
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JL Bryan
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« Reply #14 on: September 01, 2010, 03:21:54 PM » |
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I for one wholeheartedly agree with this request!! I have an adversion to snakes and have been known to throw books across the room when taken by surprise by a photo. They totally creep me out.
The pictures of the ant is amazing, who knew they have fur?
Is that why you have a snakey creature on your profile pic?  |
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The Hooded Claw
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« Reply #15 on: September 01, 2010, 05:26:40 PM » |
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Thanks for the nice comments! The picture was taken with a normal Canon Digital SLR and a special closeup lens called an MP-E-65 (nice, easy-to-remember name!). The MP-E-65 allows you to take high magnification photos (up to 5x) but will only photograph at most a couple of inches in front of the lens (only a bit more than an inch at maximum magnification) and has a very narrow depth of field where the image is sharp, so it is a chore to use!
The bristles are sensors....Since the ant's skin is hard and only slightly flexible, they don't have a sense of touch as we do. But the little bristles alert the ant if something is rubbing against her or (especially important!) grabbing her.
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scarlet
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« Reply #16 on: September 01, 2010, 05:57:01 PM » |
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More pictures?
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RJ Keller
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« Reply #17 on: September 01, 2010, 09:17:20 PM » |
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I never thought I'd think an ant is beautiful, but that really is. It's given me a new perspective on crawly critters. Can't wait for more pics!
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The Hooded Claw
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« Reply #18 on: September 01, 2010, 10:09:25 PM » |
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More pictures?
Manana, senorita! I'm surprised you didn't comment on the ant's color! |
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scarlet
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« Reply #19 on: September 02, 2010, 08:47:22 AM » |
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Manana, senorita!
I'm surprised you didn't comment on the ant's color!
Okay. And why, it's not green... sometimes i think i should change my screen name. |
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BTackitt
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« Reply #20 on: September 02, 2010, 09:30:11 AM » |
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Okay.
And why, it's not green...
sometimes i think i should change my screen name.
You know, I have often wondered about you being the "queen of mean", and THC's sidekick... Can a Queen be a sidekick? And that's not touching on the scarlet/green thing at all I know.. |
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scarlet
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« Reply #21 on: September 02, 2010, 09:41:21 AM » |
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You know, I have often wondered about you being the "queen of mean", and THC's sidekick... Can a Queen be a sidekick?
And that's not touching on the scarlet/green thing at all I know..
I was his minion first. Then I branched out to Bond girl status for Half-Orc. Then I decided I don't need no man and would just campaign to become queen. If I win, I'll have to change my avatar again. |
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The Hooded Claw
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« Reply #22 on: September 02, 2010, 10:07:04 AM » |
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I was his minion first. Then I branched out to Bond girl status for Half-Orc.
You're not my evil minion anymore!?!?!? Shocked, I am shocked! I am complaining to the Evil Henchperson's union! |
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scarlet
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« Reply #23 on: September 02, 2010, 10:12:05 AM » |
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You're not my evil minion anymore!?!?!? Shocked, I am shocked! I am complaining to the Evil Henchperson's union! Don't worry, I gave up the Bond girl thing. That skimpy bikini is just not me! |
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B-Kay 1325
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« Reply #24 on: September 02, 2010, 05:16:26 PM » |
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Is that why you have a snakey creature on your profile pic? Dragons have legs and wings and don't look slimy!! I was simply agreeing with the suggestion that there be a separate thread for them that those of us that wish to can choose not to look at. |
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