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Insects - Ants
Australia has roughly 4,000 species of ants.
Green Ants
Green Ants (Oecophylla sp)are extremely common in Far North Queensland and build large nests in trees by sticking the leaves at the end of branches together to create a sort of globular home. They clamber all over the tree containing their nest and serve to protect it from invaders. These ants are often found in fruit trees.
When the unsuspecting person tries to help themselves to some tasty fruit to eat, the aggressive green ants drop down on them and start biting. Their bite is not very painful but several ants attacking simultaneously can be rather uncomfortable.
WILLY GORDON of the Guugu Yimithirr tribe is the guide of the Guurgi tour. He tells that green ants are used as medicine to combat coughs and colds, either eaten alive or crushed and inhaled like a vapour rub to open up the sinuses. Mothers with infants rub green ants on their breasts to make the milk flow.
For watching more critters visit Misty Dawn's place. Thank you Misty!
21 comments:
Ants are really amazing creatures and must be here for some purpose other than biting people or animals and I think they are here for a special purpose like protecting the tree that serves as its home. People could learn a lot from them.
That's an interesting story. Never suspected that ants can be used in ways like that.
Great pictures too.
Fascinating, I have never seen those green ants before. I think they are very intelligent creatures. Great photos! And thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such nice comments.
you have gorgeous photos!
kris
What an interesting ant - and such a different color too. Great photos Wil!
I've never seen green ants before! red, yes, black, too... but not green!
Very interesting. I don't think I'd like to get too close to them. Or eat them as cold medicine.
4000 species! wow!
very interesting post.
Mothers with infants rub green ants on their breasts to make the milk flow.
Ugh, don't you think just the rubbing would work, leave the ants off? LOL
Interesting. You never fail to learn something when blogging. Green ants new to me.
Wil: Your Green Ants are incredible.
They are strange looking ants I have never seen green ones before. Thanks for stopping by my site.
Wow - thanks for teaching me something I didn't know! I love learning new things about new critters.
Interesting information and post. This reminds me of the ants that like to hang out in my citrus trees … making it challenging to harvest the fruit without coming away with ants in my hair and clothes. At least MY ants don’t seem to bite. My Camera Critters post is up at Small Reflections (along with a bunch of other stuph) … featuring Molly and Ms. Kitty interacting … sort of.
Hugs and blessings,
These are great pictures! I love that you are able to see them so closely on the leaves. Had I just been passing by, I'm sure that I would never had noticed them. Great story!
This iis so fascinating becsue I hav never seen green ants in my life. Though we have plenty of red biting sugar ants
Just came back to say my picture of flowers is up at Thunder Maker.
What an informative post! The green ants are fascinating creatures... it's interesting that they're used for medicinal purposes (although I wouldn't want to inhale them to open up my sinuses! Lol!)
Awesome
At Australia, everything is different.
I am very curious to know.
I am finishing my rounds on camera critters. Very nice photos of the ants. Can't say I would be to fond of them being on me though.
Hah ... I saw green ants for the first time ever in the Kimberleys. Their wrapped leaf nest is a marvel.
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