Category: Field Work

Some people come away from the tropics with a deep awe, respect, and passion for ants. E.O. Wilson is a great example of this. I believe I will take the low road and leave the tropics (for the second time) with a profound…dislike for ants. I hesitate to say ‘hate’ despite the few choice words that they have elicited from me, in the spirit of being a tough field biologist. In that same spirit, have I categorized the ants into ‘irritation bins’. These may or may not repeat species and I’m sure they miss quite a few, but it is only based on my lowly observations.

1. Sugar ants. When the ratio of ants to sugar gets too high in our little Tupperware in the kitchen, we know we’re low on sugar. I don’t know if I’ll ever lose the habit of scrutinizing every teaspoon of sugar from now on. These tiny ants are also usually seen on the inside of every package of anything in the cupboard.  Ew.
2. Research-thwarting  bromeliad ants. We are constantly on the lookout for new large bromeliads to use in our research. Large ones on the ground, near the station are in particularly high demand. At least 3 of these choice bromeliads have been taken over by nests of huge red ants. They are at least the length of my first index finger joint and have mandibles wider than their heads, which they do not hesitate to use on said finger when we are trying to either remove leaf litter or insert experiments. These big un-used bromeliads are just sitting there laughing at us because their army of killer ants is keeping us at bay.
3. Tiny biting ants. These ones also live in bromeliads, but also live every. where. else. In the grass, under the sink, on every leaf and twig we brush past. They are miniscule and even their miniscule mandibles pack a punch. Quite a few choice words were elicited by these guys, especially when, hours after being back from the forest, I’m still being bitten.
4.  Honey-ants. Much much bigger than sugar ants, but also inhabit our food cupboard and more or less form a collar around the lid of the honey. Ew.
5. Flagging-tape-ivore-ants and experimental-mesh-lid-ivore-ants. My next research project may be to investigate the nutritional value of flagging tape, and Nytex mesh. Who knows why but the ants love it. Every day we are cleaning up little bits of orange from the forest floor around where there used to be a useful marker. The mesh lids, designed to keep what’s out out and what’s in in, also seem to be a favourite food. One day I found one chewed nearly in half. Useful, guys. Thanks a lot.
6.  Finally, in the only non-irritating bin: Leaf cutter ants. These guys are actually pretty cool.  Our trails are criss-crossed with their highways and once in a while we stop to watch. Sometimes the highway is coming from a flowering plant and we step over parades of flower petals coming down the trail. Sometimes the parade is bright green leaf bits, and if you look closely there are usually a few lazy ants hitching a ride on top.  I don’t have a problem with the leaf-cutter ants. Unless they in fact turn out to be the flagging-tape-ivores or the mesh-lid-ivores. In that case, it’s war!
7. I almost forgot about army ants! Also a little bit cool. We have seen a few swarms in the woods, and one war on the deck of the station! But the biggest one was across our path to our dorm in Santa Rosa. It must have been a metre wide – picture the 401 with 500 lanes of traffic! It was insane! But still, I don’t have much of a problem with army ants. And yet… did you see the scene in the newest Indiana Jones movie where the swarm of giant ants carries the bad guy away and drags him into the ant hill…   blech!!