As we head to the polls in November, about 18 billion ants beneath our feet here in Rhode Island will also be busy voting. Although they probably won’t be crowning their next queen, their collective decision-making processes will influence everything from where they forage to where they live and whether or not they’ll revolt. The […]
Whether observing All Hallows’ Day, Yom Kippur, or el Día de Muertos, we have many cultural traditions associated with honoring the recently departed. Ants too, meticulously care for each other and safeguard against infection within their nests, cleaning each other and removing the dead to prevent contagion. The evolution of social immunity and its ties […]
Over the last few weeks, as communities across New England witnessed a meteor shower and a rare aurora borealis, one more auspicious event was overhead – swarms of ants took flight – and covered the sky (as well as vehicles, porches, and sidewalks). While state agencies were alerted and complaints exploded on social media, the […]
There was a swarm of interest this week buzzing about the ManhattANT, a little black and red ant unexpectedly showing across New York City. There is awe and intrigue in the discovery of anything new, and all the more when the spectacle is so accessible right beneath our feet, on the branches outside our windows, […]