Myrmecology
From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids
| Branches of Zoology |
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Myrmecology |
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Myrmecology is the scientific study of ants, a branch of entomology. The ant, its habits, behaviours and society have long fascinated man. Ancient Judaic and Greek moral tales both show that these societies had observed the behaviour of ants and related it to that of people. In many ways this social understanding of the ant world is what myrmecology is all about.
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[edit] Definitions
Myrmecochorous (adj.) dispersed by ants.
Myrmecophagous (adj.) feeding on ants.
[edit] Early Examples of human attempts to understand ant society
[edit] Jewish Mosaic Law
Said that any seeds found in the nests of ants must be given to the poor: In Southern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, there are numerous species of ants of the genera Phelidole and Messor which gather seeds and store them.
[edit] Solomon (Proverbs 6:6)
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise" This refers to the fact that the ants are hard workers. A sluggard being a lazy person, Solomon said to work as the ants work.
[edit] Pliny
Lauded the industry of the ant working through the summer nights.
[edit] Aelian
[edit] Later Studies
This early wonder at such great industry in such a small creature resulted in the birth of Myrmecology, and the discovery that many of the features of the way of life of ants are similar to our own, and the extent of the great diversity of species which belong to the ant kingdom. The similarities between primitive ponerine ants found in different continents is an important pointer to the periods when land bridges were extant and also to the nature of the pre-ant.
[edit] List of notable Myrmecologists
- Cedric Collingwood
- Mark A. Deyrup
[edit] See also
- Ants
- Formicarium, also known as ant farm
[edit] External links
- Myrmecology Portal -- Everything about ants
- Russian mirmecologist