The Colony by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
The colony is smaller this year, but like every other, it is grown from the very leaf-fabric that feeds the intrepid, arachnid mites.
The reduced bloom of mite-housing is proof of a harsh winter.
They are not like us, these mites. They take what sustenance they need, but they do little damage. They are not lumberjacks, nor are they carpenters; the brilliant, red homes that mark their arboreal towns, are meticulously grown from the very leaves upon which the colonists feed. The trees suffer little...the leaves, soon weighted with their tapering, bulbous homes, will drop naturally, as one season fades into another.
As winter makes its approach, the colonial mites will journey into cracks and crevices...
...into safe shelter in the jagged contours of bark and branch.
If they are lucky, they will survive the snows.
If they are not, then their host tree will sport fewer blooming homes in next year's summer.
***
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting on this and my previous posts. I hope your week is off to a good start.
Comments (25)
Fantastic!!!!!!
How very unusual! I've never seen anything quite like that. Wonderful story and capture!
Super macro, Chip and the addition of the DOF adds a real dimension to the foto.
Fantastic macro.
Well that is fascinating to see and to read, Thanks. excellent capture!
Great macro.. love the DOF and clarity.. Well done
GREAT MACRO & DETAIL :)
Reminds me of skin tags...those little fleshy skin growths that appear as you get older. Wonderful macro. BTW, congratulations on LWITG.
Not only do you take the simplest object and give it such beauty, you describe it brilliantly--wonderfully done!!
Brilliant and unusual shot, garnished with a most interesting lesson. I know these homes on leaves but never thought about the architects. In fact I thought it a sign of some tree desease... Must have a look into it now ;-)
Fascinating story and image. Your narration adds so much value to an already superb image! Well done my friend. :)
Brilliant narrative! I posted a pic of these Nail galls some time ago, and even got the ID wrong! You have a marvellous gift for words.
Wonderful capture, Excellent well done..
A superb capture, Chip. Interesting information too. I have never seen anything like this. Hugs. Di. xx
Wonderful intro and info Chip...those mites don't know how lucky they are to be the subject of your prose :o) Hugz
great work 10+
Very very UNIQUE...Could be the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PIC OF THE MONTH ;-0
A gorgeous macro Chip!
Intriguing capture and lifecycle, I like it!
Awesome macro.
Now that's really cool.. Love your narrative!
nice and original shot !
You can take the tiniest of things and make them universal - make me care about the life and death struggle of mites. Marvelous. CC
ah the gall mites... I love them too, they come in so many colors and variety and I am happy to see them each year coming again... fine shot
super macro !