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!

🐸  🐜  🐸   🐜  🐸   🐜  🐸   🐜  🐸   🐜   🐸   🐜

Why do they fly?

Black garden ant (Wiki)

"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. 😖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.