Myrmecology
Myrmecology is the scientific study of ants. E. O. Wilson has made many contributions to this field of science and is considered to be the world's leading expert on ants. When he was 13, Wilson discovered the first invasive fire ant colony in the United States, which later became the subject of his first published work.
He discovered that ants communicate with chemicals, or the chemical language of ants. For example, ants leave chemicals as trails to show others where to find food or release oleic acid when they die, prompting other ants to take their corpse for recycling. Most ant species have 10-20 seprate chemical signals that they use to communicate.
He discovered that ants communicate with chemicals, or the chemical language of ants. For example, ants leave chemicals as trails to show others where to find food or release oleic acid when they die, prompting other ants to take their corpse for recycling. Most ant species have 10-20 seprate chemical signals that they use to communicate.
Wilson has also done extensive research into one specific genus of ants, called pheidole. Pheidole contains more than 1,000 species, or approximately 20% of all ant species in the western hemisphere, and 10% of all known ant species. The genus is known for ants with large heads with striations, or scratches on them, and for having worker and soldier castes. He has discovered 344 of the identified species, and has written and illustrated a book about them.
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