All loyalty lost
During March each year, I am on the look out for nuptial flight and mating frenzy of our large, formidable native bull dog ants.
The frenzy and speed of movement within these mating masses is quite incredible and very exciting to observe - and they are over after a short while.
Then the frenzy breaks up and I see what I assume to be winged males all around the site, struggling and in their death throes, their duty done.
And this time I observed an additional occurrence when small black ants began attacking the much larger winged bull dog ants and literally ripping them apart.
I thought right there, how brutal and callous the natural world can be, all loyalty lost between ant brethren at this moment.
But in the natural world, a death can provide life for another and this is the harsh reality we must accept.
Bull dog ant around 4 cm body length. Genus Myrmecia, perhaps brevinoda.
Link to mating frenzy image: www.flickr.com/photos/112623317@N03/41178445302/in/photol...
© All rights reserved.
All loyalty lost
During March each year, I am on the look out for nuptial flight and mating frenzy of our large, formidable native bull dog ants.
The frenzy and speed of movement within these mating masses is quite incredible and very exciting to observe - and they are over after a short while.
Then the frenzy breaks up and I see what I assume to be winged males all around the site, struggling and in their death throes, their duty done.
And this time I observed an additional occurrence when small black ants began attacking the much larger winged bull dog ants and literally ripping them apart.
I thought right there, how brutal and callous the natural world can be, all loyalty lost between ant brethren at this moment.
But in the natural world, a death can provide life for another and this is the harsh reality we must accept.
Bull dog ant around 4 cm body length. Genus Myrmecia, perhaps brevinoda.
Link to mating frenzy image: www.flickr.com/photos/112623317@N03/41178445302/in/photol...
© All rights reserved.