Where The Green Ants Dream

[Guest]

I came upon this young eucalypt as I scaled the heights at Edith Falls some way north of Katherine.
I became so enthralled by the Green Ants that had started building nests among its upper leaves
that I made no less than four ascents of a very steep and rugged 1.6km track to re-shoot the colony.

On each occasion I tried to improve upon the first images taken with the XZ-2 but found the XZ-1 takes superior macros.
The tree kept swaying in the constant breeze that made shooting really difficult. For the close-ups I held the tip of the tree with my left hand and shot with the right.
1.
Australian green tree ants are found in tropical coastal areas in the Northern Territory and are sometimes referred to as weaver ants because
they weave leaves together to form nests bound with silk produced by their larvae. In this instance they really did choose prime real estate to build upon!
2.
Later at our base camp I found a number of far more mature nests well beyond my reach so I used the E-3 + 50-200mm + flash for a closer look.
3.
A mature colony of green tree ants can hold as many as 100,000 to 500,000 workers.
They have one queen and are highly aggressive towards intruders as I found out when I nudged one with the lens of the XZ-1.
4.
I borrowed the title for this thread from Werner Herzog's 1984 movie documentary, Where The Green Ants Dream which I saw at a Melbourne Art House theatre when it was released.

[StephenL]

Re: Where The Green Ants Dream

Those macros are really fascinating.

[alfbranch]

Re: Where The Green Ants Dream

Nice work Mark. I would love to have a go at shooting them.

[brian1208]

Re: Where The Green Ants Dream

super natural history work Mark and its always good to hear about a species I know nothing about.

The detail and environmental information in these images is really helpful and adds to the quality of the work

[Floribunda]

Re: Where The Green Ants Dream

Their nests are fascinating aren't they Mark? And can be huge.
They have a nasty bite, but can be eaten - and are a delicacy favoured by our aboriginal people.
Can't say I am keen to try them though.

[Guest]

Re: Where The Green Ants Dream

Their nests are fascinating aren't they Mark? And can be huge. They have a nasty bite, but can be eaten - and are a delicacy favoured by our aboriginal people. Can't say I am keen to try them though.

One bit me on the hand just as I had finished shooting - a very nasty bite indeed and yet the exercise was worth it.

I knew they were edible from the movie, and as we were running short of tucker I added a nest of them to boiled spaghetti to create a delicious al fresco Antipasto.

And Lyn, I really regret not having taken the E-520 on the trip which would have enabled me to use the 12-60 and 50-200mm simultaneously as you do. Due to the painters finishing painting only 3 hours before I had to leave for Darwin, I was so pressured that I packed things I didn't need (like 3 pairs of jeans!) and left behind things I did.

super natural history work Mark and its always good to hear about a species I know nothing about.
The detail and environmental information in these images is really helpful and adds to the quality of the work

Thank you Brian for the generous compliment. Indeed I saw so much natural history on this trip that I have vowed to revisit the Northern Territory again - next time in the wet season I would hope

[Guest]

Re: Where The Green Ants Dream

Those macros are really fascinating.

Thanks Stephen - the XZ-1 did good.

Nice work Mark. I would love to have a go at shooting them.

Thanks Alf, and in One Shade of Green, I would hope, (not Grey).

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: Where The Green Ants Dream

These are beautiful photos Mark & especially the macro (close up) ones. I've been looking up some more stuff of the 'top end' since my daughter will be teaching for a two month block up there in a very remote location, so thanks for showing us these.

[Guest]

Re: Where The Green Ants Dream

Thanks Ross. It will certainly be a great teaching experience for your daughter - I wish her all the best that the Territory has to offer.