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Making Unique Observations in a Very Cluttered World

Saturday, 6 August 2011

ANTS turn all colours of the rainbow in these amazing photos, taken as they eat specially dyed sugar drops -



ANTS turn all colours of the rainbow in these amazing photos, taken as they eat specially dyed sugar drops -




Dr Mohamed Babu set up the shots after his wife Shameem noticed that ants turned white when they sipped spilled milk.
The scientist mixed sugar drops with edible colours red, green, blue and yellow and placed them in his garden to attract the insects.
As the eager ants scoffed the sweet treats the colour of the sugar they had chosen could be seen in their transparent abdomens. Some varied their choice, creating different colour combinations inside them.

Dad-of-three Dr Babu, 53, said in Mysore, southern India: "The ants gain the colours as they sip the liquid. The secret is a paraffin base, which prevents the drops collapsing.
"Curiously, they preferred light colours, yellow and green. Dark colours had no takers until there was no room left beside the lighter ones."

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