Tales from the Ant World

In this charming collection of ant stories, the reader is fortunate to learn both about ants and also about their naturalist observer, famed myrmecologist E.O. Wilson. Not only does one learn about the diverse routines of these social insects, but also about the character of the scientist and the nature of science itself. In twenty-six engrossing and colorfully compact chapters, different species of ants, located in different parts of the world are described. Fascinating line drawing sillustrating the different caste members of their entomological population such as the workers, the queen, the winged males, and the soldiers of different species display the elegant specializations designed for specific life styles. Glance at fire ants, leafcutters, warrior ants, trap jaw ants and so many others. The studied behavior of ants evokes wonder at how these creatures are programmed, they elicit and respond to pheromones that activate taste and smell reactions, in contrast to larger animals that rely on sight and sound for survival. Looking into the ant world and their specialized routines is like wandering into another fantasy world, one that belongs in science fiction. Outside of the challenging Latinized genus species names which are difficult to pronounce, this introduction to part of the fauna of more than 15,000 species more ancient than us, will give the reader an appreciation for both the complexity of ants and the attentiveness of their investigators.