And yep Frank, your memory has served you well. Well done not to call it symbiosis as this category includes mutualism but also parasitism!
Cheers, David
frank theriault wrote:
On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 10:30:40 +1100, David Nelson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Spent a couple of sessions photographing these guys after discovering them at the local National Park. Very funky little critters. Yesterday the breeze was a little strong for my liking but I managed to get fairly close to the shot I was after. Let me know what you think.
http://davidavid.whatsbeef.net/imperialc.jpg
BTW, if you're interested, have a look at a few of the other shots I got the day before. The critters you're looking at are the caterpillars (and butterflies) of the Imperial Blue. The larvae are tended by ants and protected from predators and parasitoids. In return, the ants get sugary glandular secretions.
http://davidavid.whatsbeef.net/imperiala.jpg http://davidavid.whatsbeef.net/imperialb.jpg http://davidavid.whatsbeef.net/imperiald.jpg
Cheers, David
Is that mutualism? When they both benefit? High school biology was soooo long ago... <g>
Well, I like the shot. As Paul said, the backlighting really works well, and there's a certain symmetry formed by the ants that I really like.
Very well done.
cheers, frank
