Wednesday, June 5, 2013

ants' stitched nests

May 24, 5-30 PM at Botanical Garden, Karnatak University Dharwad.

In the area between the main gate and the nursery, I noticed ant nests on few trees such as Terminalia bellerica (Beleric or Bastard Myrobalan), Dalbergia sissoo and Polyalthia longifolia (false Ashoka). Some nests were quite new while others were old; I guessed it by the color of the leaves. Leaves were not separated from the trees in Beleric and false Ashoka trees; that way the nests were anchored to the tree. Nests in Dalbergia were made of leaves separated, however few leaves remain attached providing anchorage to the nest. These nests were probably made by the same species of ant. The white binding material was common in all nests.

Terminalia bellerica
Terminalia bellerica
Dalbergia sissoo
Dalbergia sissoo
Polyalthia longifolia
Polyalthia longifolia
To see more nests click on the label nests.
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4 comments:

Pushpa said...

Those nests are built by Red ants!? amazing Engineers... Nice photography sir :)

siddeshwar said...

hank you Pushpa

ants, termites, bees are great builders. Mother Nature has created such beautiful beings and what does man do? man is on the mission to destroy everything beautiful :-(

Corporate Businesses, Nonprofits and Biodiversity said...

Excellent compilation of nests. I would be interested in using the picture weaver ant nest made up of Terminalia bellerica leaves. I am developing a mobile app to explore nature trails inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai. Your picture will add value to the tree species.

siddeshwar said...

Thank you. Check out this link to see more nests.. insects and birds - http://lifeathangarki.blogspot.in/search/label/nests