7 replies to this topic

[BinaryAnt]

Here are a few photos of my recent trip to Black Diamond Mines in California. The weather was a sunny 80 degrees and it had rained a week ago, so I figured there would be a decent amount of activity.

Prenolepis imparis workers attacking a caterpillar.


A Formica moki worker carrying a dead Prenolepis queen. (I didn't realize it was a dead queen until I viewed it on my computer)


A Camponotus semitestaceus major basking in the sun, which is strange, since they are a nocturnal species. It was not very active, so perhaps it was on the verge of death.


Myrmecocystus mimicus workers maintaining their nest.


Dorymyrmex insanus alate preparing for flight.



Pogonomyrmex subdentatus worker carrying a seed.


What I believe is a Camponotus vicinus worker scouting around.


I think this is a Pheidole sp. (possibly Pheidole californica) nest and workers. They are extremely small ants, no bigger than 2mm


I also saw a few Veromessor andrei workers, but the sun was setting and the lighting wasn't very good.

Edited by BinaryAnt, March 21 2015 - 3:25 PM.

[Foogoo]

Those are great pictures!

[James C. Trager]

Your "Solenopsis" are some sort of Pheidole.

[dspdrew]

Nice post.

[Jonathan21700]

Awesome pictures!

[antsinmypants]

What kind of camera did you use to take these macro pictures? 

[BinaryAnt]

I use a Sony A6000 with a Sigma 30mm f/2.8 DN Lens and a Raynox DCR-250 adapter. It works well for now, but I'm not able to get as close as I'd like and it has a very shallow depth of field.

I'm eventually planning on purchasing a Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens, but it won't be available until June and will be fairly pricey at over $1000. The Sony lens is a dedicated macro lens, while the Sigma I have is a normal prime lens. With the Sony macro lens, I'll be able to stand about a foot or two away and get very close macro shots.

Edited by BinaryAnt, March 21 2015 - 3:32 PM.

[Ra3MaN]

Nice pics