Johnny and all of his friends came marching to my home...

08 Jan 11

The Picnic – Soldier Ants

Ants are the most social creatures on earth in terms of organization. They all have a role to play, and they don’t ask questions or have to be reprimanded. Our cabin was up near the top of a hill, and had a lovely deck you could sit on or walk around to see the valley and “campground” below.

The deck had support posts that were topped by lamps spaced out about 2 meters apart. There were four posts between the door to our cabin around the side to the back side of the deck. I noticed a gathering of insects on the closest to our door, and went to investigate. It was dusk, and the ants had gathered at the base of the lamp. In a jumble on the rail below the lamp, many of the ants had a beetle that they were holding onto. Every single space available surrounding him was filled with an ant grabbing a hold of him.

      There was a trail of ants the followed the rail all the way to the end, and the lamp burning there had another culmination of ants. This trail had workers trailing what appeared to be sections of other insects who had been dismantled and were clearly being transported in a macabre display of efficiency. When I reached the end of the deck, the hunters had perched just above the beginning of the lamp, antennae outstretched, seeking motion or touch.

     

     These ants had figured out the lamps drew other insects, and had camped out around them, hunting the wayward moth or other flying fellow. As the happy chap came close to the lamp in the dance only insects can perform around the lights, one was snatched right out of the air. It had come to close, and the hunter immediately seized him. Others came to his aid, and as the little bug struggled, it was over before it began. They began to take him apart while he was still moving.

     Nature is cruel that way. One minute you are out for a dusky flight, the next you are dinner. The flyers didn’t know better, yet the ants somehow knew something. They knew the lights were a source for food, and had set up camp, waiting to spring their ambush on the unsuspecting pilots. The ones who came to close would not escape this night.

     I saw later that night on the National Geographic Channel that ants are the most numerous social creatures on earth. Due to their numbers, they contain more biomass than humans do on earth. You might be a bit careful the next time you go near a light post after dark.