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You are what you eat: mulicoloured ants

Submitted by Karthik on 6 March, 2013 - 23:31

Dr. Mohamed Babu of Mysore noticed something strange about the ants scurrying around on the floor of his kitchen: After drinking some spilled milk, their abdomens turned white. Realizing the insects’ bodies were transparent, he got an idea for a stunning set of photographs.

He gave the creatures the brightly coloured sugar drops and watched as their transparent stomachs matched the food they were eating.

Some of the ants even wandered from one colour to another, creating new combinations in their bodies.
Scientist Dr Babu, mixed the sugar drops with edible colours red, green, blue and yellow and placed them in his garden to attract the insects.

By placing them on a paraffin base the drops kept their shape when touched by the ants.

The 53-year-old discovered the ants preferred lighter colours such as yellow and green.

(via @1amnerd, @neilhimself)