In response to Thursday's post, Francie asked me if I'd happened to get shots of any Australian spiders. Thankfully, I didn't stumble across any...! I did however, spot this spider's web on the side of a rock face when we were at Huka Falls in NZ. This opening was a good 8 inches across. At the time, I turned to the lady beside me and asked how much I'd have to pay her to stick her finger in the hole!
I was actually much more horrified (& transfixed) by this colony of giant ants on display at the Sydney Wild Life exhibit. These are Bull Ants (Myrmecia) and can grow up to 1.6 inches in length.
(If you expand these pics, you'll see they are actually quite beautiful.)
They appeared to move incredibly fast on those long legs - I wouldn't want to have to outrun them. Their vision is superior and they can track and follow intruders from a distance of 1 metre.
Well known in Australia for their aggressive behaviour and powerful stings,
the venom of these ants has the potential to induce anaphylactic shock.
I'm glad he's running the other way!
Your header pic is unbelievable. Beautifully so. I have enough of a problem with normal ants, but dealing with this type would be the last straw!
ReplyDeleteWe do not know what more dangerous spiders, or ants. Although these ants are nice, it's better to not bitten. Yours.
ReplyDeleteLast week I saw someone leap up because they realised they were sitting on an ants' nest. You wouldn't want to do that with these guys!
ReplyDeleteewwww... but, I do like the pictures!!!
ReplyDeleteVery creepy...
ReplyDeleteVery crawly...
giant venomous ants ...Um thanks for the follow up, Jane ... I think...
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want an anthill of those things in my backyard!
ReplyDeleteYou sure know it when one bites you. My DH was bitten rather high up on his leg, any higher and it wasn't his leg anymore :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pics Jane :)
I love your header pic, Jane; it's stunning! And your ant images are stunning, albeit creepy. Ants are amazing, organized, powerful. Thank goodness they haven't united to take over the world, because if they ever decided such a thing, we'd be doomed! I think it would freak me out to see ants in my backyard that are 1.6 inches in length. I shudder at the thought.
ReplyDeleteWhat fascinating photos of those creepy-crawly ugly ants! Jane, you take amazing photographs...ever thought about a new line of work?...bet you would be very successful at it!
ReplyDeleteThank you :) What a dream job that would be Elisabeth!
DeleteHI JANE - creepy indeed! My dear friend lives in Australia - she best be on the look out!
ReplyDeleteLove Gail
peace.....
I love these pics. Lovely. (And to think I'm annoyed by the tiny ants we've got here in the California desert. Tiny bitey things, but not anaphalactic shock causing. Yikes.)
ReplyDeleteAlso, the poppy photo really is lovely.
DeleteOver 1 inch! You would need a huge ant farm to watch these guys. Ants are the one insect that I always found fascinating.
ReplyDeleteamazing pictures!! really! I love the detail I can see that i would not see. like a whole other world..
ReplyDeleteExcellent photography of the bull ants, and yes they do indeed have a nasty sting.
ReplyDeleteDear Jane,
ReplyDeleteYour header photo is amazing!
And it made me giggle to think you told the lady to stick her finger in that big spider web hole, you are too funny!
I found my way here from Plowing Through Life. Love your macro photos. Hope you are having a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by - I will drop by and pay you a visit as well :) Martha is a sweetheart for surprising me with her award!
DeleteThese are so fantastic. Oh my!!!!!
ReplyDeleteUgh--the idea of ants that big!! Spiders are one thing--they are usually singletons, but nests/colonies of giant ants! That's the stuff of horror science fiction!
ReplyDelete