I think the ants were wise to the termite guards and soldiers... they were taking out a LOT of those basically defenseless winged adults at the surface, but weren't going into the ground where they were emerging from. Once themass emerging was over, the ants pretty much vanished, probably taking their haul back to the nest. It happens like that every year... :-)
Fortunately, these subterranean termites live underground and eat mostly old rotting wood that's on or underground, so they're not much danger to houses. When they emerge like this there are zillions of them - there's no way to kill them all, but the birds, ants, lizards and other predators do a pretty good job of getting most of them! =)
Actually, I have followed them, trying to make a mini-documentary.. Most of them don't get far. When they get tired of flying, they land and shed their wings, then start searching for a mate. Once a mate is found, the pair heads off to look for soil to dig in to. Since this happens in spring, the ground is usually damp, and old rotting tree stumps, fence posts, or any other kind of wood which is not set in concrete (needs direct contact with soil) will make a great new home for them!
You're right - the ants were trying to chow-down on them. At first, there were only a few ants, so they weren't able to overpower the larger termites. However, word spread and many more ants came but by then most of the termites had flown away. The ants managed to swarm on the few that were left and carry some them off to be eaten. Tough life being a bug!
If you couldn't move to smash them or run away, they probably would completely eat you... eventually. Ants which can sting could possibly string you to death - especially if you're allergic.
It's a nightmarish thought, but the most likely scenario would be that they would suffocate you by filling your lungs. Oh yes... creepy indeed! :-O
These bugs aren't exactly my favorites, but every year they do this and it's interesting to watch them try and escape before the ants and birds get them! I had to get right down on the ground with them to get these shots and had them crawling all over me. Fortunately they don't bite/sting but it was, well, freaky!
Seems like their size would protect them, but those Argentine Ants swarm them in large numbers and drag them away for lunch. If the termites don't get airborne right away, they're sitting ducks. In most cases, the ants rip the wings off of them so they can't fly away (the wings are temporary anyway and come off easily), then chase them down on foot. Some get away, but many are eaten. The next obstacle is the birds. They catch them on the ground and in the air. So do Dragonflies. :-O
I once went outside and noticed a huge colony of ants. I didnt kill the ant hill, it was far enough away from my house and garage, but one day I went out there and one of those, uh, uh.... idk what they r called but the have a lot of legs and he was going past and the ants swarmed all around it, i even sat down to watch! the ants were swarming and crawling all over the bug, and it was trying to escape, but the ants managed to get down and managed to kill it and drag it back down theyre ant hill.
Sometimes the most interesting things happen right in our own yards!
It sounds like you witnessed ant attacking a centipede. Indeed there is strength in numbers and several hundred ants have the strength to take down much larger critters. Bugs can do some amazing things =)
That was yet again, interesting and beautiful at the same time!! I have seen more of these little guys than I care to see again...I had them SWARM inside a house I lived in once! That was enough of them to last me a lifetime...hahaha!
No kidding! I'm sure glad these guys have never invaded MY house, although there are plenty of them outside in the back yard! The odd thing is that you'd never even know there were there until they do that swarm thing in spring. I guess they can be very destructive but fortunately this species (subterranian termites) seem to like wood underground rather than above ground. Whew! :-)
Uauuu... once more... a brillant work Jcmegabyte! Let me prepare to meet them again on my 6th floor. See you and all my best wishes for you and for your work!
Ahhh yes - they're oh so much creepier in HD and full screen! These termites do this every year, but you never know exactly which day they will choose. It's like all of a sudden you happen to glance outside and see a cloud of winged things rising from the ground! I had about 30 minutes to grab the camera and get the shots before it was all over. There are stragglers for hours but the real rush hour for each nest is over in just 10-15 minutes. :-)
I had the creeps after filming this too! I litereally had them crawling all over me while shooting the video, but I'm more-or-less used to it since I work with bugs so much.
Yes, please do say hello to your bugs for me when they show up, but then direct them away from your house when it's lunch time! XD There are plenty of dead trees and branches out in the woods to eat instead of peoples' homes! Thanks a bunch for watching and commenting =D
Yes, just a wee bit scary. I guess I have carpenter ants. Mine look like a smaller winged version of these termites. Thanks, you have answered a question I had.
Yea, it was a creep-fest alright! ...especially for me - I had to practically swim in them to get hose close-up shots! :-) Thanks for checking it out!
A combination of both - light painting using long exposure night stills to write the letters with a laser-pointer, then the images were composited/sequenced together in software. Thanks for checking it out :-)
Fantastic photography, as always! But creepy. Those little buggers can do SO much damage, and watching them swarming ike that, from a vantage point that looks like right in the middle of it... EWW!! Better you than me. LOL
Actually, I was right down there on the ground with them (about 4 inches away) - they were flying in my face and crawling all over my camera and arms! It was quite the experience to get the shots - a real exercise in not freaking out! XD Fortunately for me they don't bite or sting and only wanted to fly away before something ate them. Still, it was a creepy-crawly-fest!
Yes, creepy indeed - I had them crawling all over me while filming (it takes nerves of steel!) ....fortunately they don't bite! 8<O
It's no wonder the termite exterminating business is so popular after seeing the thousands of these things that took to the air. All the birds, ants, lizards and other predators onhand didn't even make a dent in the mass exodus. Bye-bye wood! Thanks for stopping by :-)
Damn you, you are really good at making these videos, The discovery or history channel should hire you to make those nature documentaries, these videos are professional quality.
Thanks so much for the great comment! :-) I think I've watched just about every wildlife documentary ever made, and I try to pick up things from them... Maybe that has helped, in addition to an aweful lot of trial and error (mostly error!) Hahaha XD
I believe that ants do the same thing with winged adults too, although that seems to happen less frequently than with these termites - at least in MY yard!
I made those light tags with a digital camera on long (15 sec) exposure and a laser pointer on a tree trunk at night. That was another interesting photographic experiment. :-)
First time I saw this happen it was a bit confusing... they all looked like ants, but the winged ones didn't look right.
I finally happened to spot a fresh break-out where it was only the termites with wings and their workers. Then I knew what they were. The ants showed up a couple of minutes later and swarmed the termites, trying to grab as many as they could. Most of the termites had flown off by then. Interesting show! Thanks for watching :-)
I was looking for Termites that actually blows up.. missleading title :(
trymvg 2 months ago
@trymvg
Same here
Torgeytits 5 days ago
Termite Explosion sounds like the name of a fucked up porno
supahfly55 8 months ago
Those ants are going to to have a fight on their hands if they go in the colony. Tell me if you know how it went with the ant invasion.
snarst 1 year ago
I think the ants were wise to the termite guards and soldiers... they were taking out a LOT of those basically defenseless winged adults at the surface, but weren't going into the ground where they were emerging from. Once themass emerging was over, the ants pretty much vanished, probably taking their haul back to the nest. It happens like that every year... :-)
jcmegabyte 1 year ago
Feeling itchy right now.
EastHolmes 1 year ago
I know how you feel - I had to get right in the middle of this while filming, and yes I did have some of them crawling all over me! Yikes! :-O
jcmegabyte 1 year ago
Party's over. The ants have shown up.
vicodumb 1 year ago
Yea - that was definitely a rude party crash! XD
jcmegabyte 1 year ago
@vicodumb OM NOM NOMNOM!
GerbilEssences 10 months ago
That has to be the most intense "coming of age" experience any living being can have.
It's like D-Day coming out of a hole in the ground and being in the open air for the first time.
O_o...
Let's all be happy we're human freaking beings.
dagdamor1 1 year ago
And as soon as they break the surface, just about everything is waiting to eat them for lunch! Thanks for checking it out!
jcmegabyte 1 year ago
Why didn't you kill it? It probably messed up plenty of houses by now..
itsBentoBox 2 years ago
Fortunately, these subterranean termites live underground and eat mostly old rotting wood that's on or underground, so they're not much danger to houses. When they emerge like this there are zillions of them - there's no way to kill them all, but the birds, ants, lizards and other predators do a pretty good job of getting most of them! =)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Oh I see. Do you know where they go after they get out underground? Haha
itsBentoBox 2 years ago
Actually, I have followed them, trying to make a mini-documentary.. Most of them don't get far. When they get tired of flying, they land and shed their wings, then start searching for a mate. Once a mate is found, the pair heads off to look for soil to dig in to. Since this happens in spring, the ground is usually damp, and old rotting tree stumps, fence posts, or any other kind of wood which is not set in concrete (needs direct contact with soil) will make a great new home for them!
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
i thought the termites were gonna explode.
matizzyizzo04 2 years ago
Spring,my favourite season.Everything becomes green and alive.
Excellent vid.,dude!
Fire666Hell 2 years ago
Thanks, man! =)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Damn, I thought it said "Thermite Explosion!"
bebobandito 2 years ago
I think that probably have been more interesting in slow motion, but I'm fresh out of thermite! XD
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
that's another story...
Knifyman 2 years ago
My guess would be is that the ants would eat them. Ants always eat things bigger than them, so why not a termite
MrBeaste 2 years ago
You're right - the ants were trying to chow-down on them. At first, there were only a few ants, so they weren't able to overpower the larger termites. However, word spread and many more ants came but by then most of the termites had flown away. The ants managed to swarm on the few that were left and carry some them off to be eaten. Tough life being a bug!
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
can i trillion or billion ants kill a grown adult? or if not a small child?
mosec95 2 years ago
If you couldn't move to smash them or run away, they probably would completely eat you... eventually. Ants which can sting could possibly string you to death - especially if you're allergic.
It's a nightmarish thought, but the most likely scenario would be that they would suffocate you by filling your lungs. Oh yes... creepy indeed! :-O
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
freaky deaky.........you know jcmegabyte,. i get the feeling you like bugs....
wadyano 2 years ago
These bugs aren't exactly my favorites, but every year they do this and it's interesting to watch them try and escape before the ants and birds get them! I had to get right down on the ground with them to get these shots and had them crawling all over me. Fortunately they don't bite/sting but it was, well, freaky!
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
what do ants to to them? theyre twice the size.
wadyano 2 years ago
Seems like their size would protect them, but those Argentine Ants swarm them in large numbers and drag them away for lunch. If the termites don't get airborne right away, they're sitting ducks. In most cases, the ants rip the wings off of them so they can't fly away (the wings are temporary anyway and come off easily), then chase them down on foot. Some get away, but many are eaten. The next obstacle is the birds. They catch them on the ground and in the air. So do Dragonflies. :-O
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
I once went outside and noticed a huge colony of ants. I didnt kill the ant hill, it was far enough away from my house and garage, but one day I went out there and one of those, uh, uh.... idk what they r called but the have a lot of legs and he was going past and the ants swarmed all around it, i even sat down to watch! the ants were swarming and crawling all over the bug, and it was trying to escape, but the ants managed to get down and managed to kill it and drag it back down theyre ant hill.
Roserietta 2 years ago
Sometimes the most interesting things happen right in our own yards!
It sounds like you witnessed ant attacking a centipede. Indeed there is strength in numbers and several hundred ants have the strength to take down much larger critters. Bugs can do some amazing things =)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Amazing, no?
YukonExpatriate 2 years ago
I thought so. Thanks for watching! :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
They are elegant creatures actually. Great stuff as always!
waywardmuse 2 years ago
I think they would be a lot more popular if they were so destructive. Still, they're interesting in either case. Thanks for watching! :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
That was yet again, interesting and beautiful at the same time!! I have seen more of these little guys than I care to see again...I had them SWARM inside a house I lived in once! That was enough of them to last me a lifetime...hahaha!
GreatGig1 2 years ago
No kidding! I'm sure glad these guys have never invaded MY house, although there are plenty of them outside in the back yard! The odd thing is that you'd never even know there were there until they do that swarm thing in spring. I guess they can be very destructive but fortunately this species (subterranian termites) seem to like wood underground rather than above ground. Whew! :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Uauuu... once more... a brillant work Jcmegabyte! Let me prepare to meet them again on my 6th floor. See you and all my best wishes for you and for your work!
miceu 2 years ago
Thanks so much for watching and the super nice comment! :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
A homeowners nightmare...IN HD!! ;)
Great photography, jc..looks like you were in the right place at the right time to capture this footage...NICE WORK!
Keep up the great vids & music :)
*****
64m >:-)
64mung 2 years ago
Ahhh yes - they're oh so much creepier in HD and full screen! These termites do this every year, but you never know exactly which day they will choose. It's like all of a sudden you happen to glance outside and see a cloud of winged things rising from the ground! I had about 30 minutes to grab the camera and get the shots before it was all over. There are stragglers for hours but the real rush hour for each nest is over in just 10-15 minutes. :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Now I've got an itching all over :D
Well, I will have the pleasure to meet them again on my terrace in summer. Should I greet them from you jcme? :-))
Very interesting, informative and a professional filming!! Great job!! Thank you for crawling through this my friend!! :-))) 5*****
Have a great weekend ahead!
Helga
xyCuriosityxy 2 years ago
I had the creeps after filming this too! I litereally had them crawling all over me while shooting the video, but I'm more-or-less used to it since I work with bugs so much.
Yes, please do say hello to your bugs for me when they show up, but then direct them away from your house when it's lunch time! XD There are plenty of dead trees and branches out in the woods to eat instead of peoples' homes! Thanks a bunch for watching and commenting =D
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
:D I will for sure say hello to them for you! Thanks for the advice, I will post a stop- and re-direction sign :D
xyCuriosityxy 2 years ago
Ohhhhhhh I just got the chills from watching these creepy crawlers. XD Fansinating nonetheless. ;)
jules10109 2 years ago
Funny thing about insects en-mass... they're interesting and creepy at the same time. :-) Thanks so much for stopping by!
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Yes, just a wee bit scary. I guess I have carpenter ants. Mine look like a smaller winged version of these termites. Thanks, you have answered a question I had.
solarcradle 2 years ago
Yea, it was a creep-fest alright! ...especially for me - I had to practically swim in them to get hose close-up shots! :-) Thanks for checking it out!
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Be thankful you are no pinocchio! :-)
solarcradle 2 years ago
Hahahaha XD no kidding! :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Interesting, but a little scary. lol, great job
slickerflicker 2 years ago
Yes, this one is sure to give at least a few viewers the creeps! Thanks for checking it out :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
was your ending channel screen done with night photo and a light source or was it just edited
Fonettik 2 years ago
A combination of both - light painting using long exposure night stills to write the letters with a laser-pointer, then the images were composited/sequenced together in software. Thanks for checking it out :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Fantastic photography, as always! But creepy. Those little buggers can do SO much damage, and watching them swarming ike that, from a vantage point that looks like right in the middle of it... EWW!! Better you than me. LOL
anmoose 2 years ago
I'd emagine he just has a good zoom and not in the middle of it but if not awsome either way.
kkevinC 2 years ago
Actually, I was right down there on the ground with them (about 4 inches away) - they were flying in my face and crawling all over my camera and arms! It was quite the experience to get the shots - a real exercise in not freaking out! XD Fortunately for me they don't bite or sting and only wanted to fly away before something ate them. Still, it was a creepy-crawly-fest!
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
once again awesome video
: )
misbehavedave625 2 years ago
Thanks so much for stopping by and the great comment! =)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
What a traffic! ^_^
donni
donchisciotte62 2 years ago
Yes indeed, the air was full of them for about an hour... "rush" hour! :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Beautiful... <3
+5
nasback 2 years ago
So glad you enjoyed! Thanks for the view, comment and stars :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Dear Friend,
nice video which shows the awakening of fascinating .... Nature,
with the Spring!
Mandi, Giuliano
giulianopietra 2 years ago
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
As a littlen' I liked the watch ants close up, laying on the ground right next to them, me Mum would give me jip.
Every now and again I'd see a swarm of flying ants emerge from the cracks in the pavement.....Looked just like your termites, but a lot smaller ; )
It is good what you can find in you back garden.
Good filming JC.
londonpenda 2 years ago
Ahh yes, this stuff brought back some good memories of my days exploring the backyard wonders as a kid, too!
Thanks for stopping by =)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Fabulous but nasty little critters! Well filmed and presented. Reminds me I have to call the Orkin man soon. lol.
BigLoveZone 2 years ago
Yes, creepy indeed - I had them crawling all over me while filming (it takes nerves of steel!) ....fortunately they don't bite! 8<O
It's no wonder the termite exterminating business is so popular after seeing the thousands of these things that took to the air. All the birds, ants, lizards and other predators onhand didn't even make a dent in the mass exodus. Bye-bye wood! Thanks for stopping by :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Damn you, you are really good at making these videos, The discovery or history channel should hire you to make those nature documentaries, these videos are professional quality.
Hypermobilemind 2 years ago
Thanks so much for the great comment! :-) I think I've watched just about every wildlife documentary ever made, and I try to pick up things from them... Maybe that has helped, in addition to an aweful lot of trial and error (mostly error!) Hahaha XD
Have a great weekend!
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
I believe that ants do the same thing with winged adults too, although that seems to happen less frequently than with these termites - at least in MY yard!
I made those light tags with a digital camera on long (15 sec) exposure and a laser pointer on a tree trunk at night. That was another interesting photographic experiment. :-)
Thanks for checking it out!
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Your artistry shows itself once again -with what you had at hand in your own backyard! *****'s : )
newmediaformat 2 years ago
Thanks so much for watching and the nice comment :-) Have a great weekend!
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
nice footage! almost got mistaken with the ants which were crawling around;) You are lucky to have these critters around. I love animals.
runesick 2 years ago
First time I saw this happen it was a bit confusing... they all looked like ants, but the winged ones didn't look right.
I finally happened to spot a fresh break-out where it was only the termites with wings and their workers. Then I knew what they were. The ants showed up a couple of minutes later and swarmed the termites, trying to grab as many as they could. Most of the termites had flown off by then. Interesting show! Thanks for watching :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
jcmegabyte thanks, excellent music and video
a cordial greeting and good weekend
Raul ...
conejolua 2 years ago
Thanks for stopping by, Raul! You have a good weekend too :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
That was Brilliant!, good job! :D
Austenmad24 2 years ago
Sometimes, interesting stuff happens right in my backyard! Glad you enjoyed - thanks for stopping by! :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Your welcome and that was very interesting, i really enjoyed it! :)
Austenmad24 2 years ago
Brilliant creepy footage, superb sound nice one mate ;-)
zrnho 2 years ago
Thanks for checking it out! =D
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
This happens every year in my back yard. And oh yes they are everywhere! Thanks for watching :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
I normally don't like to watch explosions of life, but this was pretty cool.
BinkieMcFartnuggets 2 years ago
It was nice and short, too - just like the event itself. Thanks for the view and comment! :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
*shrugs* Makes your flesh crawl.
Valis77 2 years ago
Indeed. I was about 12 inches from this event - and they were crawling all over the camera and me! It was, um... "fun" XD Thanks for stopping by :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
Cool. :)
fuzzycabin 2 years ago
Thanks for watching! =)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago
*****
ubuibiok 2 years ago
Thanks for stopping by :-)
jcmegabyte 2 years ago