Red Ant Hill

This is a red ant hill near our home in Beaver Creek marsh.  These ants protect our structures, as they cruise the perimeters and capture carpenter ants and termites for food.  The ants are better at pest control than human exterminators and toxic pesticides. Note the large logs (twigs) that the ants have dragged up on the nest.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest. “Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?” “I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same.” “Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; “we have got plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food, and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:        

“IT IS BEST TO PREPARE FOR THE DAYS OF NECESSITY.”  

Aesop Fable, 6th Century BC.

Posted by michael