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Myrmecology Dies in Darkness

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Author: Benjamin Blanchard

  • Social Insect Distancing – Ep. 5: Butt Foam

    In response to the ongoing pandemic, we are producing a short, no-frills daily podcast series: “Social Insect Distancing”. We hope that learning a little about ants will provide cross-species comfort for anxious human readers!  

  • Social Insect Distancing – Ep. 4: The Ant Nebula

    In response to the ongoing pandemic, we are producing a short, no-frills daily podcast series: “Social Insect Distancing”. For today’s episode, we chatted with guest Dr. Andrew Burkhardt, a Submillimeter Array Postdoctoral Fellow in the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard and the Smithsonian. We hope that learning a little about ants will provide cross-species comfort…

  • Social Insect Distancing – Ep. 3: Nomadic Mushroom Harvesters

    In response to the ongoing pandemic, we will be producing a short, no-frills daily podcast series: “Social Insect Distancing”. We hope that learning a little about ants will provide cross-species comfort for anxious human readers!

  • Social Insect Distancing – Ep. 2: Turtle Ants

    In response to the ongoing pandemic, we will be producing a short, mostly unscripted, no-frills daily podcast series: “Social Insect Distancing”. We hope that learning a little about ants will provide cross-species comfort for anxious human readers! Episode 2: “Turtle Ants”

  • Social Insect Distancing – Ep. 1: Ants and Aphids

    In response to the ongoing pandemic, we will be producing a short, mostly unscripted, no-frills daily podcast series: “Social Insect Distancing”. We hope that learning a little about ants will provide cross-species comfort for anxious human readers! Episode 1: “Ants and Aphids”

  • Still Pinned Up

    This is a contributed piece by Kyle W. Gray. Still Pinned Up By Kyle W. Gray Our brains are wonderful, but they forget. That’s why I decorate my room with reminders of what I’ve experienced and learned, but more importantly, who has inspired me along the way. Five years ago, I was convinced without doubt…

  • Parenting in Myrmecology – Survey!

    A group of myrmecologists have launched an exciting survey about the impacts of parenting in myrmecology on the careers of scientists in the discipline! See below for a message from a leader of the study, Dr. Manuela Ramalho of Cornell University. If you are a myrmecologist, whether or not you have a child, please fill…

  • Coverage of the XXIV Simpósio de Mirmecologia (LIVE)

    The XXIV Simpósio de Mirmecologia (Myrmecology Symposium) is underway in Belo Horizonte in the beautiful state of Minas Gerais, Brazil! Our editor-in-chief, Benjamin Blanchard, is on site, and The Daily Ant is pleased to cover the activities at this symposium by providing live updates (when Wi-Fi availability is permitting). Enjoy! Updated at 8:55am on October 9th, 2019…

  • Joy, Loss, Ants

    This piece is a guest contribution by Natalia Piland. Joy, Loss, Ants I’ve been grieving a lot lately. Life seems to be a series of losses, things not quite turning out how you wanted. That can be transformative. But sometimes, like when someone you’ve just met shares their hopes for the future with you only to…

  • Philosophy Phriday: Video Interview with Jeff Sebo (and Smoky)

    The Daily Ant hosts a weekly series, Philosophy Phridays, in which real philosophers share their thoughts at the intersection of ants and philosophy. This interview with Dr. Jeff Sebo is the 68th contribution in the series. Dr. Jeff Sebo sat down with The Daily Ant to discuss animal agency and moral status, Dr. Sebo’s pet dog Smoky, our pet ant…

  • Formicid Form: Falling in the Presence of Ants

    The Daily Ant maintains “Formicid Form”, a Sunday ant poetry series. When possible, our Verse Correspondant, Natalia Piland, provides a short commentary at the end of each poem. Enjoy! Falling in the Presence of Ants (1982) By Gary Soto We live to some purpose, daughter. Across the park, among The trees that give the eye Something…

  • One Little Ant

    We told you to stay tuned, and we weren’t lying! Comic Correspondant Matt Hernandez brings us a fifth ant comic by Poorly Drawn Lines, this time with the whimsical title “One Little Ant“: Is this the final PDL ant comic? You better best believe it’s NOT!