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Aphid Farmer


Aphid Farmer
Photo Information
Copyright: Matthew Johnson (Matt) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 10 W: 0 N: 15] (47)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-08
Categories: Insects
Camera: Olympus Camedia C-460 Zoom
Exposure: f/5.2, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-10-25 14:29
Viewed: 1266
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a photo of garden ants (Lasius niger) farming aphids (I think Rose Aphid [Macrosiphum rosae] but I’m not sure) on the underside of a buddleia leaf.

Ants herd their livestock of aphids and various scale insects into sheltered spots. They then protect this herd from predators and will even move them to new feeding grounds. They stroke the aphids with their antenna stimulating them to secrete honey-dew, a sweet substance that ants crave.
klemmg, livios, cedryk has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Good 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2005-10-25 17:03]

Hello Matthew, ants are difficult to shoot: very small and constantly moving quite fast. Light was difficult too with the most prominent aphid in the sun and the ant in the shadows. You did well under these conditions!
Regards,
Gabi

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-10-25 17:54]

Matthew, I like the picture.

Life is all around here.

I have the feeling the shot could be a little bit sharper, but, as a whole, a nice photo.

I also enjoy colors.

Nice diagonal composition. The constrast is quite week and the capture could be more tight and focused on the ant itself. Anyway, very interesting subject :-) TFS! Michal

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