Social Ants and Water drops

Awais Yaqub

Hello here are few photos of small ants farming aphids. The water drops are not from rain but they were extracting from these bugs or perhaps from stem of the plant. Last year same bugs appeared but larger ants were on duty to farm them. I exactly don't know what they are and what they are up to and why they do that i hope someone can explain that







Shot with Sony H5 with reverse 50mm

GOLDENORFE

very nice, like #2 best.
phil
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenorfe/

teamracephotos

Great images!
I think the ants are feeding off the Aphids. I captured some ants doing this last year, but no where as good as these.
The one on the right in #2 looks like its carrying a cut diamond. MMhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071009212548.htm

philiphutson

Awais Yaqub wrote:

Hello here are few photos of small ants farming aphids. The water drops are not from rain but they were extracting from these bugs or perhaps from stem of the plant. Last year same bugs appeared but larger ants were on duty to farm them. I exactly don't know what they are and what they are up to and why they do that i hope someone can explain that
Shot with Sony H5 with reverse 50mm

Here is a good article on why and how they do it. Basically they farm them like livestock and then milk them for the sugary substance they (aphids) excrete.
-Philip

Lord Vetinari

Wonderful shot Awais .
They are not farming aphids here but I think mealy bugs, but it's the same type of thing. The bugs feed on the sap which is high in sugar and low in proteins and they then excete excess sugar which the ants pickup. They seem to do it on demand from the ant when the ant tickles them with it's antennae. In return the ants protect them from predators and move them to new pastures when it gets overcrowded.
Brian V.

Awais Yaqub

Ahan thank you Brian for insight ! amazing world
And thanks everyone for looking

Two more from today

Skippy

Awais Yaqub wrote:

Hello here are few photos of small ants farming aphids. The water drops are not from rain but they were extracting from these bugs or perhaps from stem of the plant. Last year same bugs appeared but larger ants were on duty to farm them. I exactly don't know what they are and what they are up to and why they do that i hope someone can explain that


Shot with Sony H5 with reverse 50mm

Nice going there Awais, I personally have not seen Ants with the droplets before, I have seen the Aphids with the droplets but not that Ants.

Well done! .... Skippy
.

chuckinsocal

Hi Awais,

All I can say is: A M A Z I N G !!!!!! Awesome work!!

Awais Yaqub

Thank you Skippy and Chuck !