Ants of all kinds (there are thousands of species) are among the most remarkable insects in the world in their organized way of life and cooperation with one another. Solomon, who wrote the above Bible verse, could not have used a better example of wisdom in action.
Scientists tell us ants’ tiny brains contain half-a-million nerve endings that send messages to all parts of their bodies, instructing them what they are to do. When they are together they cannot, of course, speak to one another as we do, but through body actions and by means of chemical odors they seem to understand one another perfectly. God-given instincts enable them to do things in ways that seem to us almost impossible. Not one of them is selfish, but will even give its life for the good of the others.
Weaver ants live in Africa, Australia and Asia and make leafy nests in treetops. When selecting a new nest location, they in some way agree on the leaves best suited for this purpose, and often these are quite difficult to reach. To solve this problem they form living chains. One ant acts as an anchor on an overhead branch; then others, one by one, hold on with their legs around the middle of the last one in line, making the chain a little longer. This continues as far as necessary, until the chosen leaves are reached. The long chain of ants remains in place, perhaps for a whole day, while others walk along it to reach the new spot. These workers pull the chosen leaves together and lift the sides to form a tent, all of which requires teamwork.
But how do they make two or three leaves hold together? It’s hard to believe the method they use. A number of them, after helping pull the leaves together, return along the living chain to the home nest while the remaining ones stay on the job. At the home nest each ant picks up a larva (an ant not yet fully formed) and carries it along the chain to the new location. In a way only the Creator could arrange, each larva is then told to produce a continuous, sticky, silk thread. While producing this thread, each larva is passed by the ants along the joined leaf edges and woven through them, until the whole new nest is sewed and glued together. Then each larva is taken back to the home nest while work on the new home continues. Isn’t that amazing?
The activities of these little creatures should turn our thoughts to the One who has made them and taught them their ways. A Bible verse says: “[God] doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number” (Job 5:99Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: (Job 5:9)).
We will consider more of the amazing weaver ants in the next issue.
(to be continued)
JANUARY 22, 1995
ML-01/22/1995