lonelymyrmecologist

[lonelymyrmecologist]

Graceful Twig Ant (watercolor)

[lonelymyrmecologist]

[lonelymyrmecologist]

Shiny Acrobat Ant (Crematogaster laeviuscula) tending to her flock

Trying to draw more bugs in this super simple stick art style. Hopefully I can simply them while still having them be recognizable. Is there any other bugs you'd like me to simplify? Let me know!

[lonelymyrmecologist]

HERE YOU GO , my movie about ants, "The Selfish Weaver" ! The subtitles aren't finished, but what is there should suffice for a basic understanding ! (@lovedtogekiss you wanted to be tagged!)

[lonelymyrmecologist]

I’ve been seeing these fluffy wax-tailed cixiid planthoppers all through spring, always in close association with Aphaenogaster ants. however, these ants are Lasius, and I think they may have adopted this flock of cixiids after the Aphaenogaster left the area.

presumably, both ant species drink the honeydew produced by the planthoppers, and in return they get a safe place to live and easy access to the tree roots from which they themselves drink. cixiids’ waxy plumes detach at the slightest contact to gum up a predator’s jaws, yet I’ve never seen any ants with wax stuck to them.

this mutualistic relationship comes to an end when the planthoppers mature, leaving the ants to go drink sap from aboveground plants. they also leave behind their wax tail and develop big eyes and glassy wings.

this is a Melanoliarus seen nearby. I’m not sure if it has any relationship to the juvenile cixiids pictured, but if not they’ll probably become something that looks very similar.

[lonelymyrmecologist]

They hit her with a frying pan :(

[lonelymyrmecologist]

Girl that explodes into blood and viscera

[lonelymyrmecologist]

tetramorium fulviceps also known as little shmoopy doopy skrunkly dinkly doos

[lonelymyrmecologist]

Euphydryas aurinia / Le damier de la Succise.

Sud de l'Ardèche, France.

12 mai 2024.

[lonelymyrmecologist]

dont call him that

[lonelymyrmecologist]

I got a new macro lens! I'm still learning how to use it, so most of the photos I took today were out of focus. But this one came out pretty good!

[lonelymyrmecologist]

Antrostomus carolinensis by Eric Heisey

[lonelymyrmecologist]

World's most beautiful girl looks at you with her huge autistic eyes while she stings you to death

[lonelymyrmecologist]

It's my 9 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

[lonelymyrmecologist]

Random bee behavior fact for those who wish to read, just because I feel like it and because it’s late and I’m stalling on sleeping:

Bumblebees may seem like passive, cuddly, and docile creatures, but they won’t hesitate to defend themselves if they feel as if their warnings aren’t being read or taken seriously.

I.e. the photo and diagram below, when a bee feels threatened they will raise one or more of their legs into the air, signaling to whatever or whomever may be bothering them as a message essentiality saying: “hey, back off, too close!”

species pictured: bombus pascuorum, bombus impatiens

If their defensive posture goes unnoticed or ignored, they may be pushed into defending themselves by stinging (which is also a stressful experience for not only one such as yourself, but also for the bee.) If you ever find yourself getting close to a bumblebee while taking pictures, walking close to them, or just admiring them, remember this posture! If a bee does this, it is simply asking you to take a step back as it feels it is being threatened.

Now you can understand and use this knowledge to your advantage if you ever come across one in the future. (Of course, because it’s very hard not to anthropomorphize animals, I do have to admit that they do look pretty cute when doing it. Just remember to respect them though!)

[lonelymyrmecologist]

still thinking of this melanistic garter i saw (confirmed by others who know much more about snakes than me) (not an eastern racer (in behavior or body)) (keeled scales) (in an area where garters are abundant and overwinter, basking around other garters) (me and a field herp had to argue with some photographer for 20 minutes) the inside of her mouth was even a very dark red!