Product Description

"Journey to the Ants" combines autobiography and scientific lore to what study of ants can offer. Bert Holldobler and E.O. Wilson interweave their personal adventures with the social lives of ants, building, from the first minute observations of childhood, an account of these abundant insects' evolutionary achievement.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #44050 in Books
• Published on: 1995-09-05
• Original language: German
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

The surprising world of the superorganism
Most people seem to think of ants only as pests, to be exterminated by whatever means possible. They undermine the root systems of our flowers and vegetables, farm aphids on our tomatoes, raid our kitchens and picnics and generally make a blooming nuisance of themselves. So it's refreshing to hear from a couple of their biggest fans. Wilson and Hölldobler present a whole different view of ants: ancient (they've been here for a 100 million years or more), fantastically well adapted to their various environments, ecologically indispensable, incredibly diverse (about 9,500 recorded species and probably that number again still undiscovered) and unbelievably interesting. There are army ants and honeypot ants, ants that take prisoners to use as slaves, ants that live as parasites on other ants, ants that cover themselves in muck to achieve an effective camouflage, ants with jaws like dangerous farm implements, ants that farm crops and ants that herd stock. They live underground, in mounds, in trees, in logs, in my pantry - you name it. There are all sorts of different domestic arrangements in different ant species - some have multiple queens for example (and occasional civil wars) but, in general, the queen is the head and the heart of the colony. Without the queen the colony is dead - even if the poor little workers are still moving around. That's why an ant colony is regarded as a superorganism. No ant is an island. When did you ever see just one at your picnic?

This book is as easy to read as any novel and more interesting than most. The authors' delight and enthusiasm shines through and infects the reader. I challenge anyone to read this book and not end up feeling some degree of respect, even affection, for the little critters.

Great teaching aid for non-science teachers.
This book is easy to read. Could easily be used by elementary, middle school, and secondary school teachers to prepare a number of interesting lessons and scientific projects. Not only can insects (ants in particular, of course) but society, community, non-linguistic communication, evolution, and putting the universe into a size perspective provides many areas for class discussion. "Ants are oblivious to human existence." An incredible statement that will spark great conversation. Ants do not even know we are here! And they wont miss us when we are gone. After we have destroyed our natural habitat, they will continue to live in their microwildernesses. Text also provides a brief chapter on how to collect and observe ants and ant colonies. I am a language teacher but found reading this text simple and interesting.

Evolution and complex systems. Wow. Read it in one day.
I haven't enjoyed a book like this in a long time. I plan to re-read it soon. It leaves you boogled by the complexity that can be introduced by simple evolutionary rules. That fun part is that it is rooted in a reality that can be found on the sidewalks and in your back yard. I almost gave it a ten, but I wanted to leave myself some room to grow. It is a great book.