On this Christmas Day, Americans across the country come together to celebrate the national holiday in their own way. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Agnostics appreciate a day off from work. Myrmecologists dwell on the ants of Christmas Island.

This is the location of Christmas Island:

One of the earliest treatments of ants on this island is found in Horace Donisthorpe‘s renowned 1935 Christmas classic, The Ants of Christmas Island.

Inspired by this joyous tale of biological diversity, many writers over the past century have expanded upon the original Christmas Island story. The compilation of this work is now easily accessible using AntMaps. So, tend the fire in your fireplace, curl up on the couch, and immerse yourself in the ant diversity of Christmas Island.

The Ants of Christmas Island, Illustration by AntWeb

Brachyponera – 1 species

Camponotus – 2 species

Erromyrma – 1 species

Hypoponera – 1 species

Leptogenys – 1 species

Lioponera – 1 species

Monomorium – 2 species

Odonomachus – 1 species

Parvaponera – 1 species

Plagiolepis – 1 species

Platythyrea – 1 species

Strumigenys – 1 species

Technomyrmex – 1 species

Tetramorium – 6 species

AND LAST…

The invader…