Every time it rains, ant houses must be flooded, right? And so throughout the rainy season, do ants spend most of their time choking with rain water and mud, having the roof come down on their heads, struggling to get out, watching their families die, their carefully stored food all washed away, and then when the rain stops, go down and bring out all that mud in small lilliputian mouthfuls, without pausing to grieve - and then go through the entire process again and again and again? (Any myrmecologists out there who can answer this?)
You mean they live through this destruction and reconstruction and destruction, ad infinitum, all their short lives?
And is it easier for them to be Sisyphus-es because they cannot think or remember, and therefore cannot despair?
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise"*.
Is there another lesson here apart from hard work?
*Proverbs 6:6. The Old Testament
Picture from Google Images
well, i am no myrmecologist (i learnt a new word today), but apparently the ant mounds are designed so that rain water doesnt enter colonies unless under very severe conditions. also, they seem to be a community quick on the move at the first indication of natural changes (going to higher grounds when they sense rain). all this thanks to google.
ReplyDeletei also found this as a response somewhere: "No,,,, They just excavate to make more breathing room. That's why you always see more mounds after heavy rains".
this is a fascinating topic
http://antlinks.blogspot.com/2006/11/handbook-of-ants-of-india.html
ReplyDeleteNest design varies with species and also region depending on whether the region is arid or wet. Ants are not just hard workers but intelligent too. Nests are designed in such a way that not just water but enemies too are kept away. It would be good to pick up the book :On a Trail with ants" if you are keen on learning more on ants. Cheers...
ReplyDeleteAbhi