Originally written for the 2011 McGraw Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology, republished with permission. Leaf-cutting (attine) ants have an ancient mutualistic relationship with basidiomycete fungi, which they cultivate for food and defend from parasites with bacterially generated antibiotics (Fig. 1). The bacteria involved in these multipartite relationships are an ancient group called actinobacteria, notably […]
Giant Ant Fossils in Wyoming
According to Susan Milius of Science News, “giant” ant fossils have been found in Wyoming. How big are the fossils? Well, if you’re worried about bugs the size of a Volkswagon, worry no more. They were only about the size of a hummingbird. Check out this video of an ant in amber, in a CT […]