Critique the Community

Wildlife

Join Our Wildlife Photography Contest NOW
  • Submission Deadline: Wed, 27 Dec 23 17:00:00 +0000

    This contest has ended.

  • Voting is closed.

  • Congratulations to the winners!

    View Results

50
Votes
Community Avg
2.14 - "Needs Work" 

A phorid fly larva moving away with a decapitated ant's head, while the ant lifts its foot as though to reach for its missing head.
Some species of phorid flies (Psedacteon sp.) lay their eggs on ants. The larva will burrow into the ant's body and feed on it for a few weeks, while the ant goes about its business. When it is ready to pupate, it will move to the ant's head and empty it out. Afterwards, it will release some chemicals which will help it to detach the head from ant's body. Finally, after moving the head to a safe place, it will pupate inside the empty head.
In one of the ant nests, the ants were getting regularly infected. I back lit one such infected ant, waited for the head to be moved away from the body and got this image. After losing its head, the ant's legs would still be moving sporadically, even responding to touch.

Gear: Canon 7d mk 2, canon 100mm macro, canon 580 ex 2 flash

Settings: f9, 1/250, ISO-640

Post processing: a little dodging and burning, slight crop, levels adjustment

Log in or register to post comments