Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   myrmepropagandist (futurebird@sauropods.win)'s status on Saturday, 08-Nov-2025 21:26:19 JST myrmepropagandist

   "Two Common Ponerine Ants of Possible Economic Significance”

   I know it’s probably a boring book about farms and pest control— but what if it wasn’t? What if it was a financial thriller about an ambitious pair of ants who take on Wall Street. (and only resort to stinging when all else fails) ?

   Maybe the world needs such a book.

   • Embed this notice
     myrmepropagandist (futurebird@sauropods.win)'s status on Saturday, 08-Nov-2025 21:26:16 JST myrmepropagandist

     in reply to

     • book_dragon

     @JeanieBurrell

     The ants grow a particular crop of fungi they have cultivated (and domesticated) for millions of years. Different species of ants have different crops.

     The way they excavate the soil and enrich it is probably important to many other organisms.

     (image via: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Subterranean-portion-of-a-giant-leafcutter-ant-nest-in-Brazil-Concrete-was-poured-into_fig3_282628837)

   • Embed this notice
     book_dragon (jeanieburrell@mstdn.social)'s status on Saturday, 08-Nov-2025 21:26:18 JST book_dragon

     in reply to

     @futurebird This is the most entertaining thread I've read this morning. But I do have a question. In the attached photo is a reference to "fungus-growing ants." I wonder if any of those particular species affect mycorrhizal networks either positively or negatively?

     Aral Balkan and GreenSkyOverMe (Monika) repeated this.