WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
The Empire of the Ants
byVanderleunonJanuary 15, 2020
The colony has been abandoned for a long time and spans an area roughly equal to 500 square feet, with its tunnels and passages spiraling down some 26 feet down into the surface, and is believed to be one of the world’s largest ant colonies, if not the largest.
Nature’s Secret Power, a documentary, speculated that this wondrous engineering structure was the effort of an active community of leafcutter fans, described as essentially a superorganism. It is estimated that the work resulted in over 40 metric tons of soil being excavated to lay the foundations of the inner structure, which is made up of an incredible network of interconnected pathways.
This complex network resulted in the efficient transportation of foraging expeditions, and a great ventilation system from within the structure. The chambers were used to grow fungus gardens and also to dispose of rubbish in dedicated pits. The leafcutter ants would have foraged for any type of vegetation to sustain their internal gardens.
An immense flood of ants, about a hundred yards in width, was pouring in a glimmering-black cataract down the far slope of the ditch. Many thousands were already drowning in the sluggish creeping flow, but they were followed by troop after troop, who clambered over their sinking comrades, and then themselves served as dying bridges to the reserves hurrying on in their rear.
Shoals of ants were being carried away by the current into the middle of the ditch, where gradually they broke asunder and then, exhausted by their struggles, vanished below the surface. Nevertheless, the wavering, floundering hundred-yard front was remorselessly if slowly advancing towards the beseiged on the other bank. Leiningen had been wrong when he supposed the enemy would first have to fill the ditch with their bodies before they could cross; instead, they merely needed to act as steppingstones, as they swam and sank, to the hordes ever pressing onwards from behind…. Leiningen Versus the Ants–Carl Stephenson
HA! As I started reading this and was reminded of Charleton Heston and Eleanor Parker in “The Naked Jungle”. It’s worth seeing. I may watch it again, soon, as it’s been 10 years or more since I last saw it.
‘za + brew + jungle = a decent evening
peacelovewoodstockJanuary 16, 2020, 4:27 AM
@ghostsniper, “The Naked Jungle” is great, it was based on the story Vanderleun links to at the end of the article above .. in fact, the character that Heston played was named “Christopher Leiningen”
peacelovewoodstockJanuary 16, 2020, 4:27 AM
@ghostsniper, “The Naked Jungle” is great, it was based on the story Vanderleun links to at the end of the article above .. in fact, the character that Heston played was named “Christopher Leiningen”
CCJanuary 16, 2020, 7:21 AM
Our local state park has an extended leaf-cutter ant colony that is visible where an entrance is on the trail.
Probably several hundred yards long and who knows how far into the brush.
Pretty funny to watch little marching bits of green form a line.
There were a few humans-versus-critters thrillers in that era ….
ghostsniperJanuary 17, 2020, 4:12 AM
Thanks Eric. I had to grab that link, and will grab some more.
I like Conrad as a radio narrator. Have over 500 mp3 files of the old, early 50’s, Gunsmoke radio episodes in which Conrad plays Matt Dillon. Good stuff. They are available for download at archive.org
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
HA! As I started reading this and was reminded of Charleton Heston and Eleanor Parker in “The Naked Jungle”. It’s worth seeing. I may watch it again, soon, as it’s been 10 years or more since I last saw it.
‘za + brew + jungle = a decent evening
@ghostsniper, “The Naked Jungle” is great, it was based on the story Vanderleun links to at the end of the article above .. in fact, the character that Heston played was named “Christopher Leiningen”
@ghostsniper, “The Naked Jungle” is great, it was based on the story Vanderleun links to at the end of the article above .. in fact, the character that Heston played was named “Christopher Leiningen”
Our local state park has an extended leaf-cutter ant colony that is visible where an entrance is on the trail.
Probably several hundred yards long and who knows how far into the brush.
Pretty funny to watch little marching bits of green form a line.
I had read the story many years before I found the episode from Old Time Radio’s anthology series “Escape.”
From May 23rd, 1948: “Leiningen versus the Ants,” starring William Conrad — perfect choice!
https://archive.org/download/OTRR_Escape_Singles/Escape_48-05-23_-042-_Leiningen_Versus_the_Ants_-William_Conrad_Jay_Novello-.mp3
“..an aging, slightly decrepit eagle…”
There were a few humans-versus-critters thrillers in that era ….
Thanks Eric. I had to grab that link, and will grab some more.
I like Conrad as a radio narrator. Have over 500 mp3 files of the old, early 50’s, Gunsmoke radio episodes in which Conrad plays Matt Dillon. Good stuff. They are available for download at archive.org
Here’s the entire “Escape” library index, download as you see fit.
Careful, stepping back in time might make you all weepy woo.
https://archive.org/download/OTRR_Escape_Singles/