The Argentine Ant Supercolony

No single insect has had a larger influence on the development of mankind than the lowly ant. It has been storied throughout world literature, and even in the greatest of books, the Bible. Proverbs 6:6 states “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise.” It is said that rose by any other name is still a rose; however, the story is not the same with the ant. One particular species, the Argentine …

…of having these ants around is obvious, especially when they are cooperating. Ants, although they are usually considered to be a pest themselves, eliminate other pests as they eat, such as grasshoppers and larval beetles. Ant tunneling also aerates the soil, taking the place of earthworms in some places. Thus, the colony should be a welcome addition to Europe, as it has probably been increasing the quality of crops unbeknownst to the farmers for years.