Horrific close-up photo of an ant is the stuff of nightmares
Creepy creepers with a threatening bite that can cause an insatiable itch, ants are nightmares for many people. A close-up of one of these little horrors from Nikon’s Small World Photomicrography Competition 2022 (opens in new tab) evokes a horrific response that has spread like poison through the lymphatic system across the internet.
Eugenijus Kavaliauskas, a Lithuanian photographer, captured the horrific sight, earning him an “Images of Distinction” nod from the jury. Appropriately titled “Ant (Camponotus),” the image was captured by the ant‘s alien-like face five times under a stereo 10x microscope. Kavaliauskas called it an example of “God’s designs and the many interesting, beautiful, unknown wonders under the feet of men,” said Kavaliauskas. The Washington Post (opens in new tab).
So, what makes this zoomed-in image so terrifying? Perhaps it’s the insect’s antennae, which are eerily similar to a demon’s piercing red eyes. Or maybe it’s the insect’s razor-sharp teeth built to pierce the victim’s flesh with a single bite.
Related: The lightning-fast bite of trap-jaw ants should tear their heads apart. This is why it isn’t.
The creepy image isn’t the only scary thing about ants. Entomologists have documented ants turn into zombies after coming into contact with mind-controlling parasites, throw up in each other’s mouths to willingly form social bonds and queens sacrifice oneself as a way of preserving the throne.
The ant statue wasn’t the only thing that caught the jury’s attention. Other creepy shots those earning prizes included a tiger beetle devouring a fly, a colossal blob of slime, and a psychedelic statue of a stained dinosaur bone.
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