Wednesday 18 September 2024

The bullfrog and the flying ants!

I've been arguing with blogger and Vimeo on photo and video alignment. You'll have to forgive me. These durned free services!

Can you see him under the leaf? The sun has been too hot for him. We've had very hot days, but very cool nights.




Can you see the ant in his mouth?! 

Ants are out and about!



Have you ever turned a rock over, and found ants rescuing their eggs? This is how fast it all happens: Ant eggs 


I'm not thrilled with ants. We've mean ones in the dry sand near the water fountain. They have a wicked bite for such a teeny thing. Anyway, every year we see the winged ones launch themselves up into the air.


Jeremiah took advantage of them!



๐Ÿธ  ๐Ÿœ  ๐Ÿธ   ๐Ÿœ  ๐Ÿธ   ๐Ÿœ  ๐Ÿธ   ๐Ÿœ  ๐Ÿธ   ๐Ÿœ   ๐Ÿธ   ๐Ÿœ

Why do they fly?


"Ants mate on the wing, so "flying ants" are alates (reproductive individuals), which include males and gynes (virgin queens). The mating (or nuptial) flights of Lasius niger usually occur around June to September"

The queen takes off with the alates, they mate in the air, and she finds a burrow. She'll block up the entrance for protection, then she'll eat her wings. ๐Ÿ˜–After she lays her eggs, she doesn't eat, the wings have protein to sustain her. Losing about 50% of her body weight, she'll care for the eggs. Eventually, once the eggs go through the larva and pupa stage, to become adults, they will remove the blockage and life will continue on as they grow, forage, and build tunnels.

11 comments:

Tom said...

...I like frogs, ants not so much.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
Love the frog, but the ants not so much, lol.
Take care, have a great day!

tz_garden said...

I hope the frog continues to feast on the ants. Yes I've definitely seen the little buggers scurrying with their eggs, yuck!

Rajani Rehana said...

Great blog

Val Ewing said...

I've seen those ants with wings gathering one time in our forest, it was amazing. There were literally thousands of them landing on this old rotten stump and gathering.
It was pretty odd looking.

Looks like Mr. Frog will have plenty to eat.

Anvilcloud said...

Nature eh? I assume the mother dies, or do the wings regenerate? I wouldn't have thought so though.

RedPat said...

Jeremiah looks happy.

Divers and Sundry said...

Hello, frog!

The ants pour out of plant pots when I water, moving their eggs. It does happen fast!

Elephant's Child said...

Like the other comments I have seen I am much fonder of frogs than of ants. Most ant bites bring me up in spectacular welts.

Far Side of Fifty said...

We need more frogs to eat all the ants!!

Red said...

It makes much more sense when the actions of the critters are combined.