Ant highway

Spotted these ants heading up a gum tree this morning. Most were moving in the upwards direction, making me wonder what they were harvesting up there. Probably some form of food to take back to the nest. More thoughts below.

Bigger ants.

The colours and textures in the bark were quite amazing.

Black ants do not kill trees. If a colony of black ants is living in a tree, it is because at least part of the tree is already dead.

The worker ants are always looking for food and are probably attracted to the sweet honeydew deposited on the branches by honeydew-producing insects such as aphids or soft scales. Ants may also be attracted up into trees by sweet floral nectar.

Some famous old ant verses:
The ants go marching two by two,
The little one stops to tie his shoe

The ants go marching three by three,
The little one stops to climb a tree

The ants go marching four by four,
The little one stops to shut the door

The ants go marching five by five,
The little one stops to take a dive

The ants go marching six by six,
The little one stops to pick up sticks

The ants go marching seven by seven,
The little one stops to pray to heaven

The ants go marching eight by eight,
The little one stops to shut the gate

The ants go marching nine by nine,
The little one stops to check the time

The ants go marching ten by ten,
The little one stops to say "THE END"