Alex Wild on insects, science, and photography
A grisly scene in Kibale forest, Uganda: I found this long-dead cadaver stuck to a tree trunk at about waist height. The body must have been there for months or even years, judging from the moss growing across the cuticle. Why is this puzzling? Rainforests are intensely competitive environments, and free protein does not stick [...]
I sometimes get requests for stylistic pictures of dead ants. From pest control industry folks, usually. And I always have to beg off. Somehow, with my global image library of hundreds of different ant species, I’ve had nothing but live insects. Dead bugs never held much aesthetic appeal, I guess. Well, Pest Control People. Just [...]
I can’t imagine a more unpleasant way to go. This poor oleander aphid (Aphis nerii) has its innards sucked out by a hoverfly larva. photo details: Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens on a Canon 20D f/13, 1/250 sec, ISO 100 MT-24EX flash diffused through tracing paper levels adjusted in Photoshop.
A personal blog by Illinois-based biologist and photographer Alex Wild.
Myrmecos- derived from the ancient greek word for "ant"- hosts Alex's musings about these and other little creatures that share our planet.
Questions? Email alwild [at] myrmecos.net; or follow @Myrmecos on Twitter.
