The Importance of the Ant by Rachel Sievers

“People don’t care, Rich,” she shouts. Of course, people care, she just doesn’t care, which is fine, I don’t need her to care. I can care for both of us. 

Ants communicate with each other using pheromones, which are chemical signals. These signals help them find food, avoid danger, and coordinate their activities. 

Her voice is trill and I can tell she is mad. I edge out of her line of sight. She has been known to be quite passionate, even throwing things in a fit of passion. I have only been hit once by her. She has awful aim, still better safe than sorry. 

Ants, though small, have evolved a variety of defense mechanisms to protect themselves and their colonies. Including but not limited to Mandibles: These powerful jaws are an ant’s primary weapon. They can be used to bite, cut, and hold prey or enemies. Spines: Some ant species have developed sharp spines on their bodies to deter predators. Size and Strength: While not a defense mechanism in the traditional sense, the sheer number of ants in a colony can overwhelm predators. 

I have no mandibles, size, or strength.  She has told me I don’t have a spine either but that is inaccurate. I do in fact have a spine and have shown it to her. 

“See?” She says again, breaking my thoughts. “You can’t even hold a conversation without thinking about your precious ants. That’s what you were thinking about, hu?” 

Her eyes are green which I have always thought was a nice color but when she is mad they squint and shrink and it is hard to see the iris. 

While ants themselves aren’t green, they can detect certain shades of green light. This helps them navigate through foliage and potentially find food sources more efficiently. 

Maybe that is why I was attracted to her because of her green eyes, and why when she is mad I am less attracted to her. 

“I wasn’t,” I start. 

“Don’t lie to me. You are such a dork, I can’t believe I ever slept with you.” 

To be honest I was surprised as well. She is not normally the type of girl I would usually get. My mind does not have the delusional grandeur that her’s does.  I can clearly see that she is several steps up on the social ladder from where I squat near the bottom. 

Male ants have one job in life – mating with the queen. They are born with wings, unlike the worker ants, and use them to take flight during a special mating swarm. After mating with the queen, the male ant dies shortly after, having fulfilled his purpose in the colony.  

She has fake highlighted hair and large breasts. She spends hours getting ready and I am never disappointed with the results. While she is beautiful, she is aging and she thinks men will find her less desirable as she ages. She is looking for a husband because she thinks her biological beauty will start fading quickly, and I think she is right. 

Worker ants are sterile females that make up the vast majority of the colony. They handle all the day-to-day tasks like finding food, caring for young, building the nest, and defending the colony.

When she met me, she thought I was something I was not. I am a scientist and am the lead expert on myrmecology. She assumed, wrongly, that I would be better off financially than I am. Being an expert in your field does not equate to dollars. When most of your work is grant funded you live your life closer to that of a grad student than a millionaire. 

Ant colonies are like well-oiled machines. Each ant has a specific job, such as foraging for food, caring for the young, or defending the nest. This specialization allows them to work very efficiently.

“People care, Bethany,” I say my voice slightly quavering. She comes around the corner and glares at me. I take a step backward. She does scare me. 

Worker ants can deliver painful bites, and some species, like fire ants, have a powerful sting that injects venom. This can deter predators and defend the colony.

“Oh yeah? Who?” 

“My research on.”

“Don’t start Richard,” she says using my full name. When she does this, she is angrier than usual. She used my full name when she found out what myrmecology was and that my position at the university was grant funded.  

Still, she stayed but more and more I can feel her getting ready to bolt for something better. I still have this need for her. Like the fungus Ophiocordyceps she has infected me and is driving my ship. My only hope is that she doesn’t force me to the top of a leaf and then explode from my brain killing me as she spreads herself in the wind.

“There is dinner,” I try. The dinner is held at the university and is something I keep hanging over her. It is a black-tie affair and she already bought a dress. It is very exclusive, only inviting top university professors and affluent donors. Bringing her on my arm would get me a few more conversations with possible donors. I have, in the past, struggled to get donors to understand the importance of the ant. She never has a problem talking to anyone. Not about ants, she hates talking about ants, but other things she can go on and on about. She can help get me in conversations with the right people. 

If an ant from another colony approaches, the residents will likely attack and chase it away, or worse. Protecting the colony from intruders is a top priority.

I think about my research and take a deep breath trying to be more of a man like she says. I stand up tall and look her in the eyes, “please go to the dinner with me, you already have a dress.” 

“Fine, Rich but seriously I don’t want to hear about the ants anymore. For real this time.” 

I nod, that’s fine, the dinner is in two days. If I just avoid talking about my research for two days, maybe I’ll work late and then we won’t have time to fight. 

When their nest is damaged or flooded, some ant species can dig escape tunnels at incredible speeds to move the queen and brood. 

“I’m headed to Pilates, then drinks with the girls.” 

“Okay, have a nice time.” She doesn’t say anything when the door closes. Just two more days, I can go two more days without talking about ants. 

In extreme situations, some ant colonies might resort to a last resort – consuming larvae or even older worker ants to obtain essential nutrients for the queen and the remaining colony to survive until they can find new food sources.

I put my head on my desk and breathe out long and loud, I am doomed. 

Rachel Sievers 

Image: A swarming colony of ants from Pixabay.com