Issue 030 | November 2018          
A Menagerie of Ants Under Foot  Ants are fascinating social insects with colonies that can contain millions of sisters working together to raise the next generation and maintain the colony. 
 
The scientific study of ants and is called myrmecology that is derived from the Greek word for 'ant', myrmex, and is considered a branch of entomology. According to the article Identifying the Regions of Texas Under Sampled for Myrmecofauna, that can be read through the Library's EBSCOhost Academic Search Complete Database, there are 291 unique ant species in Texas! Moreover, the Survey of Ant Species in Rockwall County, Texas states that Blackland Prairie counties average between 12 and 15 ant species, however, Dallas County has an estimated 73 to 119 species. There is still much to discover, as many of the species have not been fully documented and photographed. 
 
Dig into Myrmecology 
Ants are everywhere and so is information about them! Deepen your knowledge by connecting with experts.
 
AntWeb is a global ant resource that focuses on specimen level data for entries across Texas. Search by location and species and see photographs of expert identified species of ants.
 
Discover ant activities and key distinguishing features at Discoverants.com.  Or, if you are interested in joining an organization, there are many entomological societies to choose from with international recognition and regional chapters. 
     
 Citizen Science
Host an Ant Picnic! This project aims to better understand food preferences for different ant species. Anyone can participate, first gather the necessary materials, collect data, then submit the information. 
 
School of Ants is an ongoing citizen science project to understand what ants live in urban areas. Prepare your own kit to sample ants, record data and mail it to scientists in order to contribute to the knowledge of ant biodiversity. 
 
How Ants Search is an experiment that has taken place across the globe and in the International Space Station that delves into how ants collectively search for resources.   
  
Area "Habitats" for Naturalists
Ants can be found in and around your home as well as the smallest of green spaces. With hundreds of species in Texas, the true challenge is learning to identify common species. How many unique species live near you?  
 
The Dallas Zoo also exhibits the Native Texas Leafcutter Ants. Colonies of these ants can live over 20 years and be comprised of more than 2 million individuals. 
 
 
 
 
Access our Podcast!
We invite you to deepen your knowledge of the beautiful natural world that is all around us and to connect with passionate naturalists by listening to our bi-weekly podcast. All in the spirit of lifelong learning!
 
Featured Books 
Journey to the ants : a story of scientific exploration
by Bert Hölldobler

Combining autobiographical accounts with scientific lore, an in-depth study of the world of ants picks up where its Pulitzer Prize-winning precedent, The Ants, left off, describing the myrmecological society and its relevance to human existence. UP.
Secret lives of ants
by Jae C. Choe

My first journey to the ants -- The economics of ant society. Ants mean business : how the futuristic economics of ants maximizes their returns ; Economies of scale and rational business management : from joint ventures to multinational enterprises ; A 50-million-year tradition of farming : the massive underground mushroom farms of the leaf-cutter ants ; Ant ranchers : masters of dairy farming second only to mankind ; The world's first bodyguards : standing watch for room and board ; The charge of the ant brigade : the terrifying march of the army ants -- The culture of ant society.
The earth dwellers : adventures in the land of ants
by Erich Hoyt

Explores the world of ants in a Costa Rican nature reserve in a study that is told from the ant's perspective, and profiles such ants as the leafcutter scout and swarm-raider male
Ants at work : how an insect society is organized
by Deborah Gordon

Summarizes two decades of research on ants conducted in the Arizona desert in a revolutionary re-examination of how ant society is organized, how individual members make decisions, and how a colony evolves
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