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Camponotus sericeus


Camponotus sericeus
Photo Information
Copyright: Aniruddha Dhamorikar (aniruddhahd) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 18 W: 1 N: 77] (289)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-01
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony DSC H7, 5.2 - 78mm In built, 1.7X TC VCL-DH1774
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-16 11:53
Viewed: 219
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Camponotus sericeus

It was a catch of the day for me! After some extensive exploring at Karjat, I happened to come across this curious ant with a red head, black body and… a golden bum?! Yes.

I have been exploring a lot of ants, thanks to a friend who got me interested in this field. Not many like observing ants and ants are, unfortunately, considered as dumb units of a huge ant colony, but let’s see the bigger picture, and you will know that ant colonies are as complicated as human societies. And so ants were on my “hit list” and I wanted to see more and more of them. I was glad to come across this certain ant. Now identifying ants by photographs is considered crazy by entomologists. But there’s this book On a Trail with Ants, by Ajay Narendra and Sunil Kumar M, the pioneers who successfully introduced the world of ants to nature enthusiasts of India. I am so thankful to them!

So I identified this ant based on photograph as a Morph of C. sericeus - with a large red head. Also considered rare, it is a brave ant with a determination to bite any intruders. I am yet to come across C. sericeus around Mumbai region, so this find made me happy :).
The ant in the above image, and several of her sisters were defending a Calotropis plant ferociously. They did not like me around them. I then searched the ground - but none were seen on it. I counted about 4 individuals on Calotropis, one of them was smaller as compared to the image above. The Calotropis was along a small clear and unpolluted stream.

Now, something about C. sericeus – the Common Golden Ant, they are very common in Southern India, and less and less common in the drier central plains of India. However, this morph is common in the drier regions. The normal form of C. sericeus prefers ground, and colonize dead fallen trees or under a boulder. I saw plenty of those in Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, but never this red morph. So here it is!


PS. If you do come across this ant, please make a note of the location, time, estimate the number of ants and most importantly habitat.

I had previously posted an image of Common Golden Ant, this is the same species, different morph.

Thanks for looking!

References:
http://formicinae.blogspot.com/2006/04/camponotus-sericeus.html

http://antlinks.blogspot.com/2006/11/rare-morph-of-camponotus-sericeus.html
marianas, CatherineD, flashpoint, ramthakur, nagraj, goutham_ramesh, uleko has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To goutham_ramesh: thanksaniruddhahd 2 11-09 00:04
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Aniruddha,
Excellent macro, with fine details and a very good extensive note. TFS and best regards,
Catherine

ET????
Superb macro image of a colourful Ant, Aniruddha.
The pose of the subject is really very interesting. Artistic in a sort of abstract style.
Very sharp details.
TFS and regards.
Ram

This is picture of the day.
Details are outstanding.
A very well exposed image.
Regards
Nazir

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2009-10-16 22:47]

Hi Aniruddha,
Excellent macro shot of this great looking ant with superb sharpness and details. Nice pose captured and I like its red head. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 567 W: 94 N: 1194] (4878)
  • [2009-10-18 22:48]

Hi,
I really appreciate this work and your interest in 'Ants'. Wish you all the best. tfs.
nagraj.v

Wonderful sharpness you have got here! The details and the composition are excellent, a more diffused flash output would have brought much better details on the ant!
TFS
gouthamramesh.com

wow, a very nice shot!
not easy to capture such an ant with this good details

very nice work !

greetings,
Matteo

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2997 W: 162 N: 968] (2839)
  • [2009-11-27 11:46]

Hello Aniruddha,
A most impressive macro of this Ant showing fantastic details! Very nicely composed too and the colours are beautiful.
TFS and regards, Ulla

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