Scientists studying Temnothorx rugatulus ants of Western North America have identified a caste within their colonies that largely laze about most of the time. Lead scientist, Daniel Carbonneau, asks, “are they actually doing something, with it only appearing like they’re inactive? Or are they social parasites acting selfishly?”
Theories abound to try to explain why an ant colony would tolerate such inaction.
Some think they might be reserve soldiers ready to spring into action to defend the nest, others speculate that maybe they’re acting as feed stations for worker ants, or perhaps data stations passing on orders to the others.
Ants got welfare now?!
So the ants have joined the grasshopper now?
Progressive ants.
Section 8 ants.
They’re democrANTs.
These are large, black ants, right?
Global warming ants.
Red Ants.
Oh, Lord; every comment made me laugh even more as I scrolled down. *wipes away laugh-tears*
Would it be unfair of me to say I nearly spit my pop when I read “Progressive ants” from Billy Fuster!
Good job, guys! I think we need to come up with a TeeVee show based on comments from iOTWr.
I located a colony of these ants in my mom’s basement – go figure. I could tell it was the same species because the ant hill was made of pizza boxes and Coke cans.
You can identify the idle ants by the tiny Obama stickers on their thoraxes.
Come on people – they are public employee union ants –
No folks. This is an intentional attack on proverbs 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
Or, biological entropy in motion.
Pissant