#insectinteraction — Public Fediverse posts

I just finished making a new tiny diffuser and headed outside. This amazing girl was sitting on a mango and posing nicely. Despite having my cheapest most underpowered flash on my camera, I'm still pretty happy about the result. This tiny wasp was probably looking for fruit fly larvae.

More photos here:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/353566360

#Nature #Photography #Diachasmimorpha #Opiinae #Braconidae #Hymenoptera #SriLanka #Parasitoid #Insects #InsectInteraction

I found this winged queen surrounded by dozens of workers at the base of a tree. I wish I would have stayed and watched how this played out. Some workers were threatening while others seemed to be feeding her. After one ant nipped at her, another nipped at that ant. Did the established colony take in this young queen? When I returned a short time later, they were gone? So many questions...

#Formicidae #SriLanka #Ants #Insects #InsectInteraction #Oecophylla #smaragdina #Photography #Nature

This wasp was ovipositing in some insect hidden behind the curl of the petal (sepal) on a heliconia plant. This chalcid is like a 1/4 the size of a grain of rice. If I have this ID'ed correctly, this is an aphid parasitoid, but it looked like it was ovipositing in a mealybug.

#Proctotrupomorph #Chalcid #Pteromalidae #Pachyneurinae #Photography #Nature #Insects #SriLanka #Insects #InsectInteraction

A super tiny parasitoid wasp investigating some possible host scale insects.

#nature #Photography #Wasp #Insects #Parasitoid #Chalcid #SriLanka #InsectInteraction

And now for some more ants! I spent years and years of my life studying wasps but I can't ever find them when I'm holding my camera. But hey, ants are still awesome. The one on the right must have found something delicious as she is sharing it through trophallaxis (aka the kiss of life? do ant experts really use this?) with her sister. I presume these are shiny acrobat ants but would love a correction.

#Insects #Nature #Photography #Ant #Oklahoma #Crematogaster #laeviuscula #InsectInteraction

@ewen

What these friendly guys? Ok, so not the same, but closely related Asian weaver ants. These ants are bold and a bit crazy. I've had one jump from a tree and land on my leg where it buried its mandibles. I've really enjoyed getting to know these ants. They have such big personalities! I have also seen one jump a tiny gap chasing a spider. I wish I would have been filming to know for sure.

#Tetraponera #rufonigra #Oecophylla #smaragdina #Ants #Formicidae #SriLanka #InsectInteraction

Seems appropriate at the moment.

This Large Oakblue caterpillar being tended by its Weaver ant overlords.

This photo won me my first weaver ant battle scar. ...not my caterpillar clearly

#Arhopala #amantes #Oecophylla #smaragdina #SriLanka #Insects #Arthropods #Lepidoptera #Ants #Formicidae #InsectInteraction

Daily life of the Asian Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina). First, a couple of cute sisters. These inquisitive ladys had to poke their heads out to see what was approaching their nests. Moments later they were lined up with mandibles wide and abdomens flinging formic acid at me. But it started cute and intimate.

Next, an attentive farmer wondering why I am getting so close to its cattle.

#SriLanka #Ants #Formicidae #InsectInteraction #ShelterBuilding

Here's a head scratcher. I have this unidentified beetle that seems to closely resemble some Vexing Rove Beetles (Atheta sp.)

It really looks to me to be eating this leaf. There was a similar track in the same leaf with two of them in it. I couldn't get my camera in close enough to get pictures though. The problem is, I have never heard of rove beetles being herbivores. What gives? Are they eating mold?

#Insects #Beetles #Entomology #Colombia #Arthropods #Herbivory #InsectInteraction

Happy #FlyDay the 13th. This is a Large Crane Fly (Tipulidae sp.) in the process of making tiny crane flies and was photographed in Solento. I saw a few of these, and the pictures just don't do them justice. These were amazing looking flies.

#Insects #Diptera #Colombia #Arthropod #InsectInteraction

I'm pretty sure the large ant is trap jaw ant (Odontomachus erythrocephalus) but would appreciate any help on the little lady walking across its face.

#Ants #Ant #Formicidae #Insects #Colombia #InsectInteraction