Anyone Knows An Ant Can't...

September 13, 2014

Humm

Photographer:  Tommy Hornbeck
Summary Authors: Tommy Hornbeck; Jackie Phillips

While an ant enjoys a nice cool drink, an unwelcome guest arrives for a taste (top). Unwilling to share, the two get eyeball to eyeball (center). As the hummingbird tries a drink the ant attacks (bottom). Rather unsuccessfully, as it turns out. Though drinking from a special feeder here, when hummingbirds emerge after sipping nectar from a flower, they're doused with pollen and are thus important pollinators. They prefer flowers with openings that conform to their fast fluttering wings. Hummingbirds get their name from the sound of their wings when flying, which can beat an average of 80 beats per second. They can fly in every direction, even upside down, and are capable of speeds up to 35 mph (56 km/h). Hummingbirds are found only in the western hemisphere, from Alaska to Chile. Ants are found on every landmass on the Earth except Antarctica. There are approximately 34,722 species of ants, over 15,000 have been classified. Ant colonies can range from a few dozen individuals to a few million. Photo taken at Nevada, Missouri on August 14, 2014.

Photo Details: Nikon 7100, 1/2000 sec, f /13, ISO 3200, 80mm lens.

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