If you want to go straight to the free vocabulary worksheet for kindergartners – check out my new resources page here!
The ants are waking up!
It is springtime here in Northern Japan and everything is just starting to wake up! The flowering trees are starting to show, the first tiny blue blooms of wildflowers are peeking out, and there is a yellow ground flower (not a dandelion!) that is EVERYWHERE around here! It is a time for awakening and renewal! Even for the insects 🙂
The first of what will be a full summer onslaught of winged beasts have started to show, a fly flew into the house today. An early riser, to be sure, he brought news that his brethren were gearing up for this year’s battle with us and our puny screens. But my eye was drawn to another threat, less annoying but far more damaging – the ant. Specifically, the carpenter ant!
Carpenter ants
Here in Japan, termites and carpenter ants are the ever-present antagonists to wooden structures. You don’t ‘prevent’ termite/carpenter ant damage, you mitigate and limit the damage. It isn’t if they attack your timber-framed house, it is when and how far they get before you catch it and fight back.
And it is a severe threat! I uploaded the video above showing a wooden beam that had been fully structurally compromised by carpenter ant damage. Carpenter ants do not actually eat the wood, but they can do extensive damage as they tunnel through the wood to create their nests. Looking at the beam damage in the above video, you can imagine how difficult it would be to eradicate this particular nest using cheap/simple methods. Indeed, the owner had to take this beam completely out!
Not all carpenter ant colonies cause great damage
As I showed in a previous post, some colonies just use your space without causing too much damage to the wood. Our colony just used the space underneath the bath (since demolished) and then traveled outside to ‘herd’ the local aphid population. Other than transportation tunnels, there was almost no damage to the wood. However, we got lucky. If you see signs of carpenter ants, you must get control quickly! Check here for a start.
Ant philosophy around the world
The humble ant has been a subject of fascination for humans for centuries, not just because of their fascinating behavior but also due to their rich symbolism in various cultures around the world.
Egypt
In ancient Egyptian culture, the ant was considered a symbol of order and diligence. Egyptians saw ants working together to build their colonies and gathering food for the winter as an admirable quality. Therefore, ants were often depicted in hieroglyphs and artwork as a sign of hard work, organization, and industriousness (Source: “Ants in Ancient Egypt” by James Harvey Gaul).
Greek
In Greek mythology, the ant was associated with the story of the Trojan War. As the story goes, ants helped the Greeks to carry grains of sand to build a wall around their ships while they were besieged by the Trojans. The ants’ hard work and teamwork saved the Greeks from defeat and are therefore seen as a symbol of cooperation and strategy (Source: “The Ant and the Grasshopper in Greek Mythology” by Robert Graves).
Additionally, the soldiers commanded by Achilles were the Myrmidons. They were said to have been transformed from ants to humans on the island of Aegina by Zeus. They were known to be ‘fierce and hardy like ants, and intensely loyal’. In fact, when Achilles left the battlefield after his disagreement with Agamemnon, the Myrmidons left as well – even though Achilles did not make this request of them. The battle didn’t go well for the Greeks after this!
India
In Hinduism, ants are seen as a symbol of wisdom and foresight. The ancient Indian text of Hitopadesha, a collection of fables, has a story about a wise ant who saves its colony from a flood by building a bridge across the water. This story is often used as an example of the value of planning and foresight (Source: “Hitopadesha: The Wisdom of the East” by Narayana Menon).
Native American
In Native American cultures, the ant is seen as a symbol of patience, endurance, and adaptability. Ants are known for their ability to survive in a variety of environments and to work tirelessly until they achieve their goals. Therefore, they represent the values of resilience, determination, and hard work (Source: “Animal Symbols in Native American Mythology” by Howard Schwartz).
Tao Philosophy
In Taoist philosophy, the ant represents the concept of Wu Wei, which means “effortless action.” The Taoists observed how ants worked with effortless grace, without any hesitation or waste of energy, and applied this concept to their own lives. Therefore, the ant is seen as a symbol of balance, harmony, and natural flow (Source: “The Tao of Leadership” by John Heider).
The Christian Connection
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides for her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
Probably one of the most known Bible verses out there! The ancients watched in awe as this lowly insect worked without stop to provide for their common home. The lesson we usually take from this is to work hard and to prepare for our future during times of plenty.
But, I think there is another lesson here (ok, I am sure there are lots of lessons here!) that relates to the carpenter ant. The tiny mandibles of one ant, alone, can not do much against a timber frame house – but working tirelessly together a colony can bring down the mightiest structure. It is sometimes tempting to think we can do it alone, but the ant reminds us that working hard and constantly is important – but so is working together as a team! An old saying comes to mind “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!” Your family, especially your homeschool family, should be a close-knit team – all chewing together to build your own, unstoppable colony!
