The Ant
Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and,
along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants
evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period, and diversified
after the rise of flowering plants. It is estimated that there are roughly 22
thousand species of ant.
Ant society have a division of labor, communication between
individuals, and the ability to solve complex problems
A symbol of diligence, patience, humility and foresight. In
China, the ant symbolized order and the
tireless servant.
Its industry seen in the bible as a virtue is considered
somewhat excessive in Hindu and Buddhist thought, thus becoming a symbol of the
ceaseless, petty activity of those blind to the transience of human life.
In Mali ants were the beneficent organizers, originators of
the skills of building and weaving and by the sympathetic magic their nest
could bring fecundity.
Anteaters conversely symbolism harm and chaos.
In Greek mythology the Myrmidons were a nest of ants that
Zeus transformed into humans. They were said to be among the most fierce and
efficient armies in Greece.
In some southwestern tribes, ants played a more important
mythological role-- in the Cahuilla creation myth, it was ants who spread the
earth out for people ant animals to live upon, and in Hopi mythology, it was
the Ant People who sheltered humans underground during the destruction of the
First World.
In northern California tribes, ants were said to predict
earthquakes, and it was considered taboo to disturb their nests. In South
America, ants are more often portrayed as warriors in Indian legends, probably
because of the painful sting inflicted by South American fire ants, and some
Native South American initiation rites involve young people subjecting
themselves to ant bites.
there are some southwestern tribes with Ant Clans, including
the Hopi, Pueblo, and Akimel O'odham (Pima) tribes. Ant groupings were
particularly important among the Pimas, where the people of every Pima village
used to be divided into one Red Ant Clan and one White Ant Clan. The Cherokee
also have an Ant Dance among their tribal dance traditions.
The Ant is credited
in North African myths with teaching the first humans about the uses of plants
and grains.
The Berber and Kabyl tribes have a myth that tells the story
of the wise ant that helped the first humans. Teaching them to cook grains in
spring water. gave them directions for grinding the grain into flour. he showed
them how to start a fire with stones, dried grass and wood, and a flint stone.
The Ants taught them to bake bread.
It was the ant that directed man to save seeds and to plant
them in the rainy season.
In the mythology of the Kuba People of Conga Nyonye Ngaga,
the eldest son of the creator god Bumba, is the creator of the humble ant.
He made billions of ants and died of fatigue. His effort
would be the standard for ants work ethic.
the ants were
grateful to Nyonye Ngana for making them, and scurried into the earth to give
him a decent burial. They’ve been busy doing that ever since.
colonies consist of various castes of sterile, wingless
females, most of which are workers (ergates), as well as soldiers (dinergates)
and other specialised groups. Nearly all ant colonies also have some fertile
males called "drones" and one or more fertile females called
"queens" (gynes). The colonies are described as superorganisms
because the ants appear to operate as a unified entity, collectively working
together to support the colony.
Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. Ants
thrive in most ecosystems and may form 15–25% of the terrestrial animal
biomass.
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