Red Harvester Ant

Fine closeup with nice details - why is the ant population declining?

Tom Whelan wrote:Fine closeup with nice details - why is the ant population declining?

Tom,
Unfortunately, when people see the mounds, they poison the ants.  This is turn has adverse ramifications not only to the ants.  Another very big problem is the fire ant epidemic.  Fire ants do not directly kill the Harvester.  Fire ants efficiently eat the same food as the Harvester, and eventually the Harvester Ants starve.  There seems to be more understanding, at least in South Texas, of the value of Harvester ants to the ecosystem and hopefully people throughout Texas will become more tolerant.   

Hi

An excellent up close shot and one that is much better than any I have manage to get of an ant

Sadly your story is a little too frequently told throughout the world nowadays, and I suspect most animals / plants species will crash and probably be extinct before I am dead. My little local patch seems devoid of life now, once when I got up in the morning my hedges would be covered in a jeweled network of spider webs, lucky to spot a single one now. I don't know what the answer is, tolerance would certainly be a good starting place


All the best
Matthew

Matthew Pugh wrote:Hi

An excellent up close shot and one that is much better than any I have manage to get of an ant

Sadly your story is a little too frequently told throughout the world nowadays, and I suspect most animals / plants species will crash and probably be extinct before I am dead. My little local patch seems devoid of life now, once when I got up in the morning my hedges would be covered in a jeweled network of spider webs, lucky to spot a single one now. I don't know what the answer is, tolerance would certainly be a good starting place


All the best
Matthew

Matthew,
The story is sad but all too true.  I have control over 700 acres and everything is done to keep everything as natural as possible.  I am lucky that the property has not had any pesticides for probably over 50 years.  I provide a constant source of clean water, which is the key to promote wildlife beginning with our smallest partners. 

Amazing view. Skillful DOF. Like everything about it.
Thanks

Hi again

Glad to hear you are giving nature a good helping hand, over here it's just spray,spray, spray - with god knows what chemical cocktail. I kid you not our insect population has plummeted, from key note species to un-popular ones.

I give you a prime example of the stupidity in this country

I knew an areas where we had a beautiful colony of burnet moths - the Wildlife trust decided to manage the area because of these. So in their infinite wisdom they mowed down all the natural grasses during the moths summer breeding seasons. Result no more colony of moths - response from warden of said wildlife trust "we need more money to help preserve them"

Obviously the right answer

It just makes me annoyed - which is one reason I don't really go insect hunting anymore, I feel I am just not helping them out


All the best
Matthew

Matthew,
I've spent only a small amount of time in your country. I would have thought that with all the vegetation, that insects would be thriving. Sorry to hear about such short-sightedness. Insects are the basic building block that is essential for larger animals to thrive, and maybe even survive. I do very little insect photography. But when I do, typically it takes less than a minute to find a subject. If you're ever in South Texas, USA - let me know and I'll show you around Laguna Seca Ranch.
Gene.