Sunday Morning in the Rincon Mountains

img_0474.jpg

Rather than blather on about my Easter Sunday, I'll just share a few images from a morning hike in Tucson's Rincon mountains. Winter rains have given way to wildflowers, and in particular the Encelia brittlebush was spectacular.

img_0494.jpg

img_0511.jpg

img_0501.jpg

img_0540.jpg

img_0521.jpg

img_0513.jpg

Prickly pear:

opuntia1.jpg

A hoverfly guards his territory:

syrphid1.jpg

Pheidole worker ant gathering nectar from a barrel cactus:

pheidol1.jpg

Honeypot ants emerging from their nest:

honeypots.jpg

Close-up of Aphaenogaster cockerelli, a common harvester ant:

cockerelli4.jpg

More like this

Wow! I love the images of the harvester ant. We have been commissioned to make a harvester ant sculpture for a pest control company in Phoenix. Your photographs are inspiring! Thanks!