The gifs are really great, especially if you're all into ANT FIGHTS and watching trapjaw ants accidentally launch themselves off a metal measuring tape.
But also there's a blog, also great, where Buck talks about the ant colony sociometric work he's been doing in Costa Rica the past few years. Not only fascinating subject material, but Buck has a gift with the words and instills his wide-eyed sense of wonder at the world in every post. I've had a lot of fun reading back through his archives the past few days. posted by carsonb at 4:16 PM on March 12 [1 favorite]
UK viewers with an interest in matters antic may care to examine an ant documentary that went out this evening on BBC 4 - Planet Ant: Life Inside the Colony.
The description: "Ant colonies are one of the wonders of nature - complex, organised and mysterious. This programme reveals the secret, underground world of the ant colony in a way that's never been seen before. At its heart is a massive, full-scale ant nest, specially-designed and built to allow cameras to see its inner workings. The nest is a new home for a million-strong colony of leafcutter ants from Trinidad.
For a month, entomologist Dr George McGavin and leafcutter expert Professor Adam Hart capture every aspect of the life of the colony, using time-lapse cameras, microscopes, microphones and radio tracking technology. The ants instantly begin to forage, farm, mine and build. Within weeks, the colony has established everything from nurseries to gardens to graveyards. The programme explores how these tiny insects can achieve such spectacular feats of collective organisation. This unique project reveals the workings of one of the most complex and mysterious societies in the natural world and shows the surprising ways in which ants are helping us solve global problems."
At 90 minutes long, that's really quite a lot of ant for your viewing investment. A pleasing counterpoint to the animated gif. posted by Devonian at 7:03 PM on March 12 [1 favorite]
I read it as "antics" and clicked before looking at the comments. I have a serious ant phobia from falling off a tree into an ant hill as a kid.
Thought I was going to sleep tonight. Guess not...
Thanks. Thanks ant lot... posted by gemmy at 8:21 PM on March 12
Grrrrrrrrr! Devonian, you are teasing me! That BBC thing is only available in the UK and I can't find it anywhere else yet. I must have it! I must have the ants! posted by Scientist at 8:58 PM on March 12 [1 favorite]
But also there's a blog, also great, where Buck talks about the ant colony sociometric work he's been doing in Costa Rica the past few years. Not only fascinating subject material, but Buck has a gift with the words and instills his wide-eyed sense of wonder at the world in every post. I've had a lot of fun reading back through his archives the past few days.
posted by carsonb at 4:16 PM on March 12 [1 favorite]