An ant can't move a rubber tree plant., page 1

A guy has just won a photography contest for an image of an ant lifting 100 times its own weight and I just wanted to share it (the rest is filler

An amazing image of an ant lifting 100 times its body weight has won first prize in a science photography contest. The image shows an Asian weaver ant hanging upside down on a glass-like surface and holding a 500mg (0.02oz) weight in its jaws. It was taken by zoology specialist Dr Thomas Endlein of Cambridge University as he researched insects' sticky feet.

Weightlifting ant is photo winner

Pretty cool photo? Our tiny little nuisances and eco-friendly warriors could take over the world with the right leader

They represent up to 30% of all the animal biomass (wiki) (not a great wiki) on land!! That's a lot of ants...

According to Hölldobler and Wilson (1990), up to 1/3 (33%) of the terrestrial animal biomass (NOTE: not including aquatic animal, or terrestrial and aquatic flowering plants and microorganisms) was made up of ants and termites. A study made in Finland produced a terrestrial animal biomass of ants alone of 10%. In the Brazilian rain forest the biomass of ants exceeds that of terrestrial vertebrates by four times! Thus a figure for ants of 15% of all terrestrial animal biomass is not out of line.

Percentage of biomass made up by ants...

They live in 'super-colonies' that span areas of the Mediterranean, Argentina and elsewhere. Below is an image of a 'small' nest that's been filled with plaster of Paris...





Ant mega-colony takes over world

Who'd have guessed what a mighty species these strong little critters are?

The photo is amazing, thanks for sharing. And these little guys don't just do weightlifting, they parachute too!

In 2009 Bolucevschi Vitali Nicolai from Moldova won the "Environmental Photographer of the Year" competition with this photo:

The 24 year old photographer tells the story behind the photo:

On a sunny day I took a camera and set out to photograph something of the life of ants. At first I was no good as the ants moved very quickly and I was easily distracted. But gradually I was drawn to a group which was climbing up a nearby dandelion. They would each pull out one seed and then parachute to the ground. Unfortunately I could not photograph these moments well, but I did manage to get this one shot of the last few ants before they flew down.

www.independent.co.uk...

[edit on 20/2/10 by ziggystar60]

reply to post by ziggystar60

---

I was drawn to a group which was climbing up a nearby dandelion. They would each pull out one seed and then parachute to the ground.

Blimey That's a great picture and the idea of flying ants reinforces my creeping fear that they are one powerful leader away from posing a threat to National Security.

I once felt sorry for a lonely ant in my parents' kitchen. I put a single drop of maple syrup down to give the little guy a snack. Next day, my dad phoned up, baffled by the hundred ants covering the worktop, I was too embarrassed to explain...I was an adult at the time! His kitchen became 'The Field of Dreams' for ants.

EDIT to sneak in this video that should see my Foe count go through the roof...

[edit on 20-2-2010 by Kandinsky]

reply to post by ziggystar60

---

Ants don't "parachute" and that's why our intrepid photographer couldn't get any pictures of it. They simply cut off the useless stalk of the seed and took the rest home. If any were to be magically "airlifted" it would have been entirely by accident and not design, if it did indeed even occur. It is my speculation that the "parachuting"bit was purely an embellishment to add interest to an already good photo. Still a good find though. Parachuting ants

I've seen it all now.

He WON ENVIRONMENTAL PHTOTGRAPHER OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR A STORY THAT HE COULDN"T EVEN DOCUMENT. Sometimes a word is worth a thousand pictures, eh? Kinda tees me off.

[edit on 20-2-2010 by Asktheanimals]

reply to post by ziggystar60

---

It's not the photo that upsets me. I have no doubt that the story made the judges see the picture differently than they would have otherwise. As photos go it has poor focus and depth of field. The composition isn't much either. From what I see this is not what I would consider to be an award winning photo. It's interesting but I'm sure the story made it even more so to some people.
Don't get me wrong, I love insects and study them constantly. I am 99% certain that his story IS untrue. Think about it - how do ants find their way home? Pheromone trails, which if they were "Parachuting" would likely send them far away from home and render them unable to bring the food to the colony. Parachuting would serve no purpose. Primates may engage in what we call play but insects do not.
Best regards, ATA

Ps - no, im not a nature photographer so jealousy is not a motivation in
my response.

Also note that the OP's picture won an award for animal BEHAVIOR, not for artistic merit.

[edit on 20-2-2010 by Asktheanimals]

reply to post by Kandinsky

---

"An ant can't move a rubber tree plant."
No, but a clever ant could carry a seed for a rubber tree plant & place it where he wanted the tree to grow. lol

reply to post by Kandinsky

---

LOL he must have called all this friends to come party.

reply to post by Asktheanimals

---

Those ants may or may not be planning a base jump from the head of that flower...we'll likely never know. The image called to mind another famous photograph...

reply to post by Kandinsky

---

I love the ant photo!
{"An ant brain has about 250 000 brain cells. A human brain has 10,000 million so a colony of 40,000 ants has collectively the same size brain as a human."}

This quote was taken from this webpage www.lingolex.com... with lots of interesting facts about ants and for your entertainment pleasure - Here are some interesting plants




[edit on 21-2-2010 by rusethorcain]

Lake Vostok Antarctica: breakthrough imminent.
  Posted 11 days ago with 176 member flags

Sky Sounds 1/25/2012 Atlanta, GA Personal Video/Audio
  Posted 19 days ago with 146 member flags

Strange sounds warn us of incoming, and very soon...
  Posted 7 days ago with 136 member flags

Volcano in Iceland Erupting Alongside The Aurora Borealis (pics)
  Posted 8 days ago with 121 member flags

6 of the oldest trees from around the world.
  Posted 12 days ago with 108 member flags

West Coast USA: Pay Attention, Cascadia May Be Ready to Rupture
  Posted 9 days ago with 87 member flags

CONFIRMED: Global Warming \'Ended 15 Years Ago\'
  Posted 15 days ago with 75 member flags

Humpback Whale Shows Amazing Appreciation After Being Freed From Nets
  Posted 12 days ago with 56 member flags

Newest topics, updated in real-time:

Newest topics getting flags, in real-time:

Newest topics getting replies, in real-time: