You shouldered the leaf piece
seven times your size, marched
charted distances to your nest,
dropped it for inspection, already divorced
from the outcome- kept
or rejected. Another member marshals
leaf balance, the perfect number
of each to best grow fungus food.
You trudge forth to search
the next leaf fragment
offered to fungal cultivars.
Written in awe of leafcutter ants I saw in Trinidad's Northern Range Rain Forest who carry leaf parts to their nest to grow the fungus (true farmers) that feeds the colony. One I tracked carried an enormous piece he successfully deposited. Another ant inspects each leaf and accepts or rejects the piece based on the balanced needs of the fungus. Imagine carrying such a burden so far only to have it discarded?
The first photo shows a leaf cutter road that ran for 1/2 a mile. The second is the nest entrance. This nest was a mound 12-14 feet across. The third photo shows the ant I tracked under that long leaf piece.
It's all offered to the G-Man for Friday Flash 55.
Yeah Mary, Nature is one of my favorite inspirations.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVED this entomological 55
You Rock ALL of The Boot Baby!!!
Thanks for playing, don't be such a stranger, and have a Kick Ass Week-End
I didn't get the photo of the overall size of this huge mound but the whole process kept me fascinated for a long time. Reading about their social structure is amazing.
DeleteDid anyone see my YAHTZEE?
ReplyDeletehehehehehe
Well done!
Delete12-14 inches or feet? It looks more like inches. Either way, the ant is so tiny, I can't imagine having all that work for naught!
ReplyDeleteThis one was 12-14 feet but they can grow to 98 feet (30 meters) with side mounds making it even bigger!
DeleteAnts are pretty amazing, no doubt. As long as they stay outside!
ReplyDeleteLove your line, "divorced from the outcome". They are all of that in their drive to work work work.
According to Wikipedia ants have the largest and most complex societies on Earth next to humans.
DeleteIt is amazing how much they can carry. I also enjoyed your poem very much, along with these great shots. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, DJan. The photos in Wikipedia are even better because they're closer.
DeleteThis is fascinating, Mary. I have a running battle with ants trying to invade my house and they are certainly highly resourceful creatures.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to add how fabulous you look in your sidebar pic!
It's easier to admire them outdoors in another country! The photo was taken on my visit to my sister-in-law in Florida.
DeleteWow, those are hard working ants. I hope no one destroys the nest.
ReplyDeleteThey are enormous mounds in the rain forest. This one is about 4 feet high and 12-14 feet long so it has been safe up to now.
DeleteWhat an amazing phenomenon. Ants TRULY are hard workers!!
ReplyDeleteThe leafcutter ants actually farm- they grow a particular fungus, keep it safe from other organisms, remove what threatens the fungus. Amazing.
DeleteWhat a waste to carry something with such difficulty only to find it isn't needed. If only the farmer ants could tell the forager ants what to bring back.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on what all the others bring back on a particular day whether or not yours is too much of the same or a good balance.
DeleteReally fascinating--the worlds within worlds around us--thanks for sharing the magic.
ReplyDeleteIt was my pleasure. I love getting more aware of those worlds.
DeleteSo cool - beautiful pics and cool poem. Thanks. k.
ReplyDeleteThanks, K.
DeleteI love leaf-cutter ants. The zoo and conservatory in Como Park, where we spend lots of time, have a display built into a wall. Behind glass you see the ants cutting leaves and following a four- or five-foot tunnel to the nest. Shortly after I saw that, I found a National Geographic feature on these ants, and I saved it so a grand-kid could use it for a science project. I don't think Augie was even born yet at the time. :)
ReplyDeleteCan you see the fungus as well? It takes a lot of management to keep it all healthy.
DeleteI don't know! Now I'll have to go and look for it.
DeleteCheck out the wikipedia article since it has a photo of the fungus and describes all that needs to be done to maintain it. It's the fungus the colony feeds on, not the leaves.
Deleteants make me hold my breath in awe... love their form of communication, their team spirit and how much they can carry... it's fascinating..
ReplyDeleteI agree!
Deletethey are pretty amazing to watch...and the size of what they can carry is proportionally amazing...there is a reason we are told to ponder the ant...smiles.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much to learn and so many teachers.
Delete