Fire Ants in the Pool | A Real Bug's Life | National Geographic

less than 1m read

·Nov 10, 2024

The industrious little fire ant is working hard to help her colony settle in. She's caring for the kids, keeping the place clean, and her family is growing fast. Meanwhile, this lakeside location has become totally bougie. Time to top it off and turn on that water feature.

Uh-oh. Quick, all hands on deck! Grab a baby. Get them to higher ground! But soon this whole place will be submerged. Their only chance is to stick together. These are instinctive survival skills from their natural rainforest home. They're forming a living life raft.

Every day, mini dramas are unfolding in bug world, and they totally pass us by. Incredibly, they're still together, kept afloat with air bubbles trapped by their waxy waterproof bodies. But inevitably, some get separated, cast adrift in a vast ocean. Now the ants need to get ashore, but there's no land for miles. Well, ant miles at least.

Hey, not so heavy with the hands! Actually, that could be just the steer they needed. But that Elvis hair is getting a little top heavy. Oh no! Our girl's gone overboard. Swim. Swim for your life! Just a little closer. Whew.

Okay. Ant raft, reassemble. All paddle in the same direction. Stay united for the final push. Land ahoy! Finally, safe and dry. By putting the lives of others before their own, the colony has survived. Time for these little anty-heroes to do what they do best. Embrace change, and go find a new home.

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Fire Ants in the Pool | A Real Bug's Life | National Geographic

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