Post Aw3YCm5jQWtnMbfybI by dendari@mastodon.world
 (DIR) More posts by dendari@mastodon.world
 (DIR) Post #Aw3YCm5jQWtnMbfybI by dendari@mastodon.world
       2025-07-12T11:37:31Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       This reminded me of @futurebird because she has a passion for ants. Also that we all in part come here to learn about interesting stuff we just wouldn't even consider without someone who shares their passion.This tropical plant builds isolated ‘apartments’ to prevent battles among the aggressive ant tenants it relies on for survivalhttps://theconversation.com/this-tropical-plant-builds-isolated-apartments-to-prevent-battles-among-the-aggressive-ant-tenants-it-relies-on-for-survival-260674
       
 (DIR) Post #Aw3YLRe0omOcYQqR5U by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-07-12T11:53:30Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @dendari Ok. Everyone has been talking about these ants, but is anyone considering how horrible it would be if you worked in a building and one day some giant scientists cut a hole in your wall and now all the people from the adjacent office could get into your supply room and steal the postit notes? The only option would be war. I think we all know that.
       
 (DIR) Post #Aw3YbcYi0R7R2R4rZY by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-07-12T11:56:27Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @dendari The paper seems to document that the ants are isolated "by the plant" ... but given how other hymenoptera induce plants to form complex galls it's also likely that the ants are controlling the plant helping it to create an apartment block that works for all of the various colonies. The articles sort of frame it as "the plant keeps the ants separate so it can have more ants" but ants also benefit from living near other ant colonies that fill adjacent but separate temporal niches.
       
 (DIR) Post #Aw3YhcPhSWwsKDivB2 by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-07-12T11:57:30Z
       
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       @dendari Consider how nocturnal ants would benefit from sharing a plant with a colony that patrols the plant during the day. Now your nest is defended at all hours.
       
 (DIR) Post #Aw3YsK5RwBHsfhM7nc by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-07-12T11:59:29Z
       
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       @dendari I find this discovery vindicating in a way. I've often wondered why, given that ants are closely related to gall wasps, there weren't more instances of "ant galls" or ants tending plants to make them into better homes. To some degree the Cecropia tree fits this description, but this is even better.
       
 (DIR) Post #Aw3ZpecFFqvLQUzFYG by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-07-12T12:10:12Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @dendari Another possible benefit to having multiple ant species for both the plant and the ants relates to predators that eat ant larvae. (who would also destroy the plant to get them)Each species of ants may have a slightly different defense against predation, from stinging, to spraying, to biting. When attacked the nest has a whole swiss army knife of possible responses.A homogenous colony could be targeted by predators adapted to its defense but the multi-colony is a greater challenge.
       
 (DIR) Post #Aw3a1Qs6BJMIH41Dc0 by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-07-12T12:12:20Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @dendari Finally this study is a textbook illustration of "The Fundamental Law of AntKeeping"The Fundamental Law of AntKeeping:"When you open a container that has ants in it, ants will come out of it."
       
 (DIR) Post #Aw3b7k1lyMSZNS7F9k by dendari@mastodon.world
       2025-07-12T12:24:38Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @futurebird I'd probably call it an axiom.