![antswarthumb.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmb65RudAtfyRf686U3qvCGmz7yi9X1WtRkSncFBd2pU8Y/antswarthumb.jpg) ### Ant antics I found a hive of activity going on in my garden around these globe shaped buds, in fact it was hard to find a peony bud or flower that didn't have an ant sitting on it. Ants are attracted to the sweet nectar that is secreted by peony buds via extrafloral nectaries. ![antspeony.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZ1Xhf99RtXXwsHMsuDawJyj4oqtfw424Dg7oUfQJBBAo/antspeony.jpg) _Some photos of the peony buds taken in May, before the flowers opened. There appears to be a bit of an ant party going on!_ >Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. The only places lacking indigenous ants are Antarctica and a few remote or inhospitable islands. Ants thrive in most ecosystems and may form 15–25% of the terrestrial animal biomass. Their success in so many environments has been attributed to their social organisation and their ability to modify habitats, tap resources, and defend themselves. [Source Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant) ### Drawings inspired by ants ![June photos19.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZxEf4qrXCnpkhQryKuxhFd6diaGs5XTfe8SeMwGQ1w1v/June%20photos19.jpg) ![June photos20.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWuy57DYCBWX3AQvAe5jbRygrgvkKvKzTtkpZEgRUHwUy/June%20photos20.jpg) Drawings made with pen and ink, and watercolours on paper. ![antpeonysml.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdLhAXFg55zs7j8hURxupLN2g5UBUgGrq851VAayd5vJC/antpeonysml.jpg) ![antswarsml.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPVCcYVBVzcWkuzk2uFv2XjvP1eRVGXmrRfjNKRvuvHoi/antswarsml.jpg) ### You will get to see these illustrations in the my upcoming story about [the Rain Fairy](https://steemit.com/collaborativeartjourney/@opheliafu/rain-fairy-a-collaborative-art-journey-with-everlove) and the ants, as part of my Collaborative Art Journey with @everlove. [![https://img1.steemit.com/0x0/http://opheliafu.thefugroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/ophelia-fu-title-v2--300x196.jpg](https://img1.steemit.com/0x0/http://opheliafu.thefugroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/ophelia-fu-title-v2--300x196.jpg)](https://steemit.com/@opheliafu)