Brian Fisher

Ants, like humans, have many strategies for defending their territory. One interesting example is the Pavement ant, Tetramorium sp. E. (why sp. E, well that is another story). This species is native to Eurasia but was introduced to North America about 100 years ago (note ants, like humans, are quick to colonize new words: Argentine ant, Fire ants .....) but what is cool is that it does a "play" war, right in front of your house, in almost every urban setting across North America. Two colonies will meet on a front, each colony trying to push and shove the other back, demonstrating, with little casualties, that they are superior and not to be messed with. From a standing position, it may just look like a black mat, but up close, it is a full on drama, with ants pushing and shoving. It is like that scene in Ant Man, where the toy train falls over - we have no idea what is happening in the secret world of the small.

How lucky you are!! To have ants visit you, right in your home. Nature not at your doorstep but in your own living room. I can understand how at first this may feel like an invasion. But stop, don't reach for the poison. Take a moment and learn from her ways. Watch how they communication and self organize. Realize you are dealing with an organisms that has collective intelligence that is teaching us how to develop algorithms for AI, how to develop better business structure, how to build better roads and functioning cities. Stop and realize that it is these ants that are responsible for soil in your garden - they turn over more soil than earthworms; they are the vacuum cleaners that keep the "brown cycle" humming along so that the cycle of ecosystems keep working.