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Tsssk, Unit Disabled, Sir!


Tsssk, Unit Disabled, Sir!
Photo Information
Copyright: Grzegorz Wieczorek (red45) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-06
Categories: Insects
Camera: Olympus 740UZ
Exposure: f/3.7, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Ants, Hormigas, Ameisen, Miers, Fourmis, Formiches [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-05-21 4:45
Viewed: 1470
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Q: What this stupid 'tsssk' in your title means, Greg?
A: This is typical 'radio communication' sound. You know - like in movies - soldier takes his radio and links comm with his HQ. We Always hear little 'tsssk' before it ;-)


Ants are one of most fascinating and...unhuman creatures. All is subordinated to community business. Rights for single unit? No. As you can see on my picture disabled unit is usefull. It will be recycled and used in anthill. I took this picture somewhere in Maramures region during our Romanian trip. We stoped for a few minutes in small Romanian village to buy some food and drinks, children from our bus played short football match with their Romanians friends and I, tired of beautifull landscapes, sat down on small stone wall. And then I spotted this cruel for us but common for ants scene.

Ant communication is primarily through chemicals called pheromones. Because most ants spend their time in direct contact with the ground, these chemical messages are more developed than in other Hymenopterans. So, for instance, when a forager finds food on its way home (found typically through remembered landmarks and the position of the sun), it will leave a trail along the ground, which in a short time other ants will follow. When they return home they will reinforce the trail, bringing other ants, until the food is exhausted, after which the trail is not reinforced and so slowly dissipates. A crushed ant will emit an alarm pheromone, that in high concentration sends other ants nearby into an attack frenzy, and in lower concentration attracts them, while a few ants use what are called propaganda pheromones to confuse their enemies.
Like other insects, ants smell with their antennae, which are long and thin. These are fairly mobile, having a distinct elbow joint after an elongated first segment, and since they come in pairs they provide information about direction as well as intensity. Pheromones are also exchanged as compounds mixed in with the food interchanged in trophallaxis, giving the ants information about one another's health and nutrition. Ants can also detect what task group (e.g. foraging or nest maintenance) other ants belong to. Of special note, the queen produces a special pheromone without which the workers will begin raising new queens.

Ants attack and defend themselves by biting, and in many species, stinging, in both cases sometimes injecting chemicals into the target. Of special note here is formic acid.

From Wikipedia.
Comandante, liquidsunshine, Janice, Luc, dew77, ellis49, coasties, sAner, AndyB, gerhardt, TAZ, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Jancie: Individualistred45 2 05-21 06:16
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Greg!
Very interesting shot from you again.I liked the position of ants and composition very much.Thanks for sharing.

Good shot Greg,
Well composed, good detail and very good notes.
Thanks for posting

Wow Greg, good read. Thanks for all that info. And here I was wondering how long it had taken you to put those ants in their correct places for this shot:)
Good and interesting capture, with the ants nicely positioned, except for that one bad one on the left. You'll have to watch him, he'll be trouble. Thanks for this I am enjoying it all.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-05-21 5:16]

Hello Greg!
Very nice shot and framing.Details,lighting and composition are perfect.TFS...:-)

Very good picture and a great note, Greg.
Good details and well composed.
The ants are maybe little dark.
Very well done.

These guys look like the shape of a wagon wheel. One has gone AWOL. Excellent macro Greg. That's one heck of a note. Superb work. Thanks

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-05-21 6:10]

Hi Greg,

Great composition; this picture tells a story. Great title and informative note. Details are sharp and exposure is good. TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

I looked at this image for a while and can't figure out what they're doing. Seeing as the one in the centre is one of their own, I assume they are trying to offer assistance. At the same time it looks like they are trying to tear him apart.
Interesting symetical composition.

Nice composition and patterns, Greg. Impressive work and a great note. Very well done.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2005-05-21 16:47]

An interesting capture Greg,
All are nice and sharp which isnt easy to do.
Very good composition and an interesting note,great title too!
Good work,well done.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-05-22 3:55]

Belle et intéressante composition macro-photographique bien réalisée pour cette réunion de fourmis.
Interesting & well done !

Hello Greg, This is an interesting shot with the ants arranged in this pattern surrounding the "disabled" unit..I guess you could say that "dismemberment" for the benefit of the whole is a good thing! ;-) The dark tone of your shot adds nicely to the dark theme here. Excellent note and very well done!

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