Investing time intensively exploring one little patch of the earth can on occasion lead to some big discoveries. Such has been my experience following life at the Falls of the Ohio State Park. Today’s post is about a recent discovery that has so far been kept very quiet. How renowned myrmecologists E.O. Wilson and Bert Holldobler missed this species for their book “Journey to the Ants: A Story of Scientific Exploration” will have to be answered by the authors. The news is all the more compelling in light of a passage in Wilson’s autobiography entitled “Naturalist” where on page 128 he says that each September from his early teens until he graduated from college that he spent time with his mother first in Louisville and then across the Ohio River in Jeffersonville. It would be interesting to know what if any formative influence the Falls of the Ohio played on the early Wilson? Wilson does recount a visit to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, but doesn’t mention the Falls which are right in his mother’s former backyard. But I digress…this story is about the Giant Blue Ant.
I came across this remarkable insect in a section of the park that receives few visitors. In my efforts to leave no stone unturned I braved many mosquito bites and brushes with poison ivy in an effort to learn what I could about the world’s largest ant. In words and images here is the story thus far. I was gathering art making materials deposited by the river after a recent flood when I observed a single individual moving through the plastic, Styrofoam, and driftwood. So well adapted is the Giant Blue Ant to this environment, that to evade detection, all it has to do is remain motionless. It’s an effective strategy since our kind are loath to notice the debris in the first place. Over the course of several days I was able observe aspects of its behavior and I think, gain it’s partial trust.
Ants are social animals, but I was only able to confirm this lone specimen. From what I understand about ant morphology it appears to be primitive and may account for why it isn’t more socially evolved. The most remarkable aspect of its behavior that I was able to watch centered around this honey-brown orb it carried around in its mandibles on the last day I saw it. My first reaction was that this was some aspect of its food. Like leaf-cutter ants, I thought this was some kind of fungus that it cultivated from organic matter scavenged at the Falls…but I now think I was in error.
I now believe the orb was in fact an “egg”. I observed the Giant Blue Ant wandering around the park looking for a place to deposit its treasure. Above is an image of the ant “considering” this willow tree with exposed roots, but in fact I don’t know where “she” eventually hid it. I’m sure I don’t want to know because it’s too important a secret. What if this is the last of its kind? The responsibility would be too much for me to bear. I’m not sure of this specimen’s gender and since I haven’t seen others of its kind…now wonder if in fact it reproduces parthenogenetically like aphids do?
Two images of the Giant Blue Ant walking along the river’s shoreline and showing both sides of its body. I did observe that one of the two holes on the right side of its abdomen held an active spider web. Is this an example of some unknown symbiotic relationship between the ant and spider?
The very last time I saw the Giant Blue Ant I took the above image. I don’t really know what to make of it? Why is it carrying this old discarded can of insecticide? Did I get too close and it was warning me to back off? Was it asking me to put it out of it misery? Was it trying to communicate the eternal question of Why? Perhaps if that egg hatches and the new ant thrives I can eventually learn the answer to these and other questions.
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 