Author Topic: Enslaved Ants Revolt  (Read 2411 times)

Trembling Eagle

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Enslaved Ants Revolt
« on: November 15, 2008, 12:18:18 PM »
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2008/08/18/enslaved-ants-revolt-slaughter-their-captors-children/





Many ants are known to be slave masters—their raiding parties steal the young from colonies of rival ants and raise the foreigners as workers in their own nest. However, Susanne Foitzik of Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich may be the first researcher to study an ant slave rebellion.

The rebels are Temnothorax, tiny ants only about the size of the comma in this sentence. Their captors are called Protomognathus americanus, and despite being only a little larger, these bullies enslave the smaller insects. Inside the larger ants’ nest, which is built inside an acorn, the smaller ants are put to work caring for their masters’ young. But sometimes, Temnothorax slaves revolt against their servile existence and slaughter the Protomognathus larvae they’re supposed to be babysitting, as well as some of the enemy workers.

daveB from Oakland

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Re: Enslaved Ants Revolt
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2008, 01:02:12 PM »
Acorns are breeding grounds for socialism and class warfare, as we learned in this recent election season.
"He didn't sound like a human when I was talking to him ... he sounded like a shape ... what's that shape of that building ... you know, where the Army lives?" -- Bryce, 11/24/2009

Come on, Jason

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Re: Enslaved Ants Revolt
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2008, 06:56:12 PM »
Who does that bug think he is, Ant Turner?!

(...)

Trembling Eagle

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Re: Enslaved Ants Revolt
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2008, 06:57:47 PM »
Enslaved Ant Revolt is a kick ass name for a band though

chrisfoll577

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Re: Enslaved Ants Revolt
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2008, 11:55:40 AM »

The rebels are Temnothorax, tiny ants only about the size of the comma in this sentence. Their captors are called Protomognathus americanus, and despite being only a little larger, these bullies enslave the smaller insects. Inside the larger ants’ nest, which is built inside an acorn, the smaller ants are put to work caring for their masters’ young. But sometimes, Temnothorax slaves revolt against their servile existence and slaughter the Protomognathus larvae they’re supposed to be babysitting, as well as some of the enemy workers.

This phenomenon is vaguely reminiscent of the Passover story in Exodus.

Sarah

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Re: Enslaved Ants Revolt
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2008, 12:57:50 PM »
Who does that bug think he is, Ant Turner?!

(...)

Anagram humor.  Can't beat it.