Introduction

Through close-up videography, follow the ant trails to find out what a scientist is learning about the organization and behavior of a thatch ant colony.

Students are introduced to thatch ants. The insects build nests using interwoven twigs. For food, they harvest honeydew from aphids. Survival depends on each worker constantly tending the nest and collecting honeydew. Interestingly, there appears to be no hierarchy in a thatch ant colony.

Length: 8:15 Grade level: 4-7

Teaching Objectives

The "Tiny Creatures: Thatch Ants" video program and curriculum guide provide opportunities for students to learn:

1. The physical structure and maintenance required for a successful thatch ant nest.
2. The food chain of a thatch ant.
3. Physical adaptations for collecting food and protection from predators.
   

Web Resources

• Center for Insect Science Education Outreach
  
• Enchanted Learning: Ants
  
• Antcolony.org
  
• Ant Cam
  
• Myrmecology
  
• Gakken's Photo Encyclopedia: Ants
  
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Aphids
  

Print Resources

About Ants:

Dorros, Arthur. Ant Cities. Crowell, 1987.

Gordon, Deborah. Ants at Work, How an Insect Society Is Organized. The Free Press, 1999.

Greenaway, Theresa. Ants. Steck-Vaughn Company, 2000.

Holldobler, Bert and Edward O. Wilson. The Ants. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1990.

Holldobler, Bert and Edward O. Wilson. Journey to the Ants: A Story of Scientific Exploration. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1994.

Hoyt, Erich. The Earth Dwellers, Adventures in the Land of Ants. Simon and Schuster, 1996.

McGavin, George. Bugs of the World. Blandford, 1999.

McGavin, George. Insects of North America. Thunder Bay Press, 1995.

Newman, L. Hugh. Ants From Close Up. Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1967.

North, Ray. Ants. Whittet Books, 1996.

Overbeck, Cynthia. Ants. Lerner Publications Company, 1982.

Pascoe, Elaine. Ants. Blackbirch Press, Inc., 1999.

Watts, Barrie. Ants. Franklin Watts, 1990.

About Insects:

Baker, Wendy and Andrew Haslam. Insects. Thomson Learning, 1993.

Borror, Donald J. and Richard E. White. A Field Guide to Insects. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1970.

Callahan, Philip S. Insects and How They Function. Holiday House, 1971.

Facklam, Howard and Margery. Insects. Twenty-First Century Books, 1994.

Greenaway, Theresa. Insects. St. Martin's Press, 2000.

Preston-Mafham, Rod and Ken Preston-Mafham. The Natural History of Insects. The Crowood Press, 1996.

Souza, D. M. Insects Around the House. Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1991.

Souza, D. M. Insects in the Garden. Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1991.

Wilsdon, Christina. First Field Guide Insects. Scholastic, Inc., 1998.

Wilson, Edward O. The Insect Societies. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971.

Glossary

abdomen: posterior section of the body behind the thorax in an arthropod

antennae: one of a pair of slender, movable, segmented sensory organs on the head of insects and crustaceans

colony: a distinguishable, localized population of a species

crop: receptacle in the forward part of the abdomen for storing honeydew

mandible: insect jaw

microcosm: a community that is the epitome of a larger unity

nest: a specially modified structure serving as an abode of animals

predator: animal that consumes other animals

prey: animal that is consumed by other animals

queen: the fertile, fully developed female of social bees, ants and termites

trail: a track made by passage through a wilderness

worker: any of the sexually underdeveloped and usually sterile members of a colony of social ants, bees, wasps or termites that perform most of the labor and protective duties of the colony.

Activities