Fire Ants - Most succesful creature that has ever lived | Full Episode

#fullepisode #animals #documentary #ocean
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Witness one of natures ancient wonders - Fire Ants!
It has been adapting, evolving for 150 million years 14 000 species they are nearly everywhere thriving.
This is the story of solenopsis Invicta for 80 years it has been on a ceaseless march across the United States racking up six billion dollars every year in crop damage equipment repair and Pest Control conquering 340 million acres in 13 states and it's still on the Move globally now scientists are cracking their ancient secrets to success and survival we knew that we could speculate all day but to fully understand the ants we decided to bring them into the lab and obtain visual data.
➡ Watch more content: • The Oriental Dwarf Kin...

[@regolith1350]

This is one of the best nature documentaries I've ever seen and it's made by one dude using his daughters as actors. Amazing.

[@michaelwatchulonis]

Thanks for all the kind comments. We initially shot it in stereo 3D. Keeping both cameras in perfect focus at that macro level is exceedingly difficult. My brilliant brother was the cinematographer. Fun fact, the entire flooding close up scene was shot in a kiddie pool, bottom cut out, sunk into the ground around a large fire ant mound. We coated the sides with baby powder so they couldn't climb out, then slowly flooded it with a hose. You can see the kiddie pool in the yard at 2:41. The extreme close ups of the fire ants finding safety and climbing out of the water was shot in a 5 gallon bucket painted black on the inside. The extreme closeup photos were shot at the University of Georgia using a special microscope and software that could compile a hundred photos in shallow focus into one razor sharp photo. Thank you UGA.

[@borissh9932]

Very interesting, outstanding job, guys!

[@threeballedtomcat9380]

Absolutely awesome job !

[@firstnamelastname6216]

Y'all did amazing!!! Greatly appreciated!!! 👍✌️ from St. Charles Co., Missouri!!!

[@MrAjmay1]

Great vid, and as a former Tallahassee homeowner, I can confirm: they rule any territory they inhabit. Got stung many times while working in the yard. The thought of kayaking through flood waters and having a fire ant mass swarm your boat is pure nightmare fuel. As a biologist, one minor science quibble: at one point you refer to the ant as an ancestor of the wasp... in point of fact, ants and bees are more derived (more recent in the evolutionary sense) than wasps. So while there are recent wasp lineages, "wasps" (as that term is commonly used, i.e., a large paraphyletic group of multiple families, infraorders, etc.), predate the ants... not the other way around. Fire ants may, in fact, be "peak wasp." ;) Seriously though, great video.

[@Ltulrich]

This was one of the most fascinating documentaries I've ever seen. Major kudos to the creators.

[@comeasyouare4545]

Had a fire ant problem for years. Couldn't stand in one spot, or they get you. They seem to wait and bite all at the same time. Making their attack more effective. No more. I started taking care of free-range chickens, and no more fire ants. Seems the chickens think they're tasty.

[@queenebony]

Chicken love spicy food too huh

[@cmbbfan78]

How do not overran the swarms of fire ants the chickens? Or the chickens eat the members of the colony when to colony is yet relative small those ending it's grow and finally it at all?

[@MF-kr4hf]

Little gasoline goes a long ways too!

[@troyhickman8577]

Agreed! Fight fire with fire :D

[@richardcoble9498]

Poppy seeds for chickens

[@charlesgreathouse4798]

I live in southwest Louisiana and have fought fire ants all my life, but a few years ago another ant showed up. They are much smaller than the fire ant and move very fast. We call them crazy ants. They don’t bite and jump off if you get them on you. After a few years the fire ants have literally disappeared from our yard. Also termites have disappeared. Some scientist needs to study these little ants

[@paulh2981]

If you can get close up photos or better yet capture some and send to a state university they should be able to ID the ants. I had an ant infestation and someone told me to ask the state university, I got good photos and emailed them and about a week later they answered and told me the exact species, it enabled me to buy the right kind of baits to get rid of them.

[@KutWrite]

That's happened here in the Southern California desert. I'm fine with the tiny "crazy" ants. They rampage for food once a year, in the early summer. I keep most of 'em out of the house. After the annual feast, they disappear 'til next year.

[@ANTASIA_07]

Species might have been raspberry crazy ants or tawny crazy ants who kill fire ants easily

[@de1018]

There is a small ant from Argentina which likes to chew through electrical wires. Do they ever seem attracted to electrical fields/devices/lines? It could be a possibility...

[@theewelder]

literally....lmao the dbag word of this nation,,,,,,stop please

[@ecrusch]

I have to admit. I never thought I'd be fascinated by a documentary on ants. You guys did a GREAT job. Thanks.

[@Locutus]

Why not? It's important to have an open mind. As a man, I will watch videos that are intended for women, such as hair, makeup and beauty. It's not that I intend to go into those industries, it's that sometimes it's interesting.

[@yvonnadeau2331]

Yep...!

[@Amazing_Mark]

I'm fascinated by fire ants.

[@williamking6616]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@rapprelevant333]

That's great buddy now youre a tad bit smarter.

[@jacobfinder7476]

A very long time ago I read a book on Ants. The author at the end stated “If Ants were the size of a medium size dog, they would rule the earth”. I believe this

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Actually, if ants were the size of a chihuahua, they'd destroy us.

[@tropickman]

They already do. All the ants presently alive outweigh all the people. There are over 20,000 ant species and they have been around for over 100,000,000 years.

[@danielwhitley6696]

Personally I think if they were just ten times there size it would be enough. I got bit hundreds of times in basic training. If they were bigger I would have been in trouble

[@SuperPatrick777]

You would.

[@sonitrok2499]

Their bodyweight would cause them to be crushed. They are not made to be this big

[@VCCAnimalStories-wc7tn]

The more I watch, the more I love animals. Thank you for translating it accurately

[@xNecromancerxxx]

This video should be intended to show how teamwork can conquer any and every obstacle the universe can throw down… Ants are so successful because of one thing, TEAMWORK!!

[@Parkerman3000]

"The only example of socialism that actually works" as my daddy used to say...

[@timsexton]

My daughter and I watched this documentary countless times in the mornings before pre-school. *_TRUST !!_*

[@cschuh4695]

Near the beginning, he said "...mounds can reach 18" tall..." When I lived in Evans, GA, I saw a mound that was easily 5 feet tall, and backed up by another one 4 feet tall, about 50 feet away... A far cry from 18"...

[@StephenGibsonRuRa]

Great program. Never thought I'd spend 50 minutes of my life watching a documentary about ants. Good job!

[@joeyhunter842]

Who you? Literally someone special?

[@MF-kr4hf]

But you literally said that you prefer essentially to literally, them used literally when you literally meant essentially..

[@publicprofilename4273]

right! In one sitting too! I couldn't walk away.

[@HarmonRAB-hp4nk]

it should be followed, for ants have more to teach us then we think. no waste, no greed.. just live in harmony. and when waste happens its discarded..

[@conradgaunt]

dont worry, you didnt !.. fire ants are actually a type of wingless wasp ..not in fact an ant .. the documentary hasnt mentioned that so far ....a little bit like how peanuts arent nuts .. they are actually peas (as more than one seed in the pod ..if i remember correctly)..

[@judithgillette144]

Did anyone else get Super Itchy watching this fascinating vid?? I was blown away at the cost of crop damage they do!

[@marions.120]

I’m still scratching! 🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜

[@AA-iq6ev]

It's peanuts compared to how much food is wasted in USA. "$444 billion worth of food annually.". They probably keep other pest under control and is benifitals. "Red imported fire ants are considered beneficial insects in cotton and sugarcane production. Amazing creatures that harms little

[@ProfSteveKeen]

For scale, that's equal about 70% of the US's annual food exports.

[@aeymed]

One of my fav channels on KZbin. Can't get this for free anywhere. Much appreciation ❤

[@ElectronFieldPulse]

You can quite literally get it free everywhere. Nature documentaries aren't exactly exclusive to the rich lol

[@lumberjaxe8910]

You must enjoy the 10's of advertisments.

[@Chronicoverburn]

I feel like I watched this months ago on another channel?

[@fasteddie4107]

I can’t believe I just watched a video on ants, but this was just fascinating. Ants are remarkable little creatures….except at your picnic.

[@indivisible885]

If you liked this one, you should look into "army ants". I've watched a couple documentaries on them, and they are also fascinating creatures!

[@TropicShade]

When I find them snooping about, it's challenge on! I'm definitely smarter than they are and do win most battles... war still ongoing.

[@Locutus]

Why can't you believe it? Why is it hard to believe you watched a video about nature?

[@JorgeHernandezR]

Out of all the documentaries about ants this has been the most interesting and informative one I’ve seen thus far, this video was well put together and full of great information.

[@Caneyhead123]

I’ve heard anecdotes that the arrival of “crazy ants” has driven out the fire ants in some areas.

[@larrymyers6327]

The best way to control the fire ant is mix lemon and lime extract and spray on the mound about 15 minutes before sundown. They can't dry off in the sun and it disolves the ecto skeleton.

[@MF-kr4hf]

Gas O Gas Ilina ⛽⛽

[@PsychesMuse]

yep! and Lavender Oil will keep them away from your house foundation too!(although fire ants do LOVE eating termites! ) Spray lavender oil in your attic around the eaves of the roof to keep them termites away too!

[@Flyingmsdaisy]

They actually killed a nursing home patient in SW Mississippi. What a horrible death.

[@nathanwwolf7843]

This doc is EPIC, so well constructed, perfect!

[@vijdannizami5417]

I DO NOT KNOW WHY U GUYS PUT SO LOUD BACKGROUND MUSIC

[@johnpro2847]

yes..we can have out transistors running if desired...very distracting and certainly not o my taste

[@steveg4334]

Really happy they aren't any larger. In Asia, we have large red ants. The bite/sting is not so fierce, but they also squirt ammonia, and can time their attack so aggressively, and in such numbers they can rapidly send you packing.

[@freddygill3425]

The section about the phorid flies (natural enemy of the fire ants) is fascinating. They remind me of fruit flies. Maybe fruit flies are laying maggots in human brains. That's why humans are losing their marbles. Ha! Thank you! A really great documantary!

[@wilebaldoludwig8953]

Great comment ! You bet ! or something like that ! but the bugs have got it more together …. We’re creating our own demise and de-evolution it seems

[@peeweebarney]

I have read that the food we eat alters our behavior patterns. That is probably why we have weirdos all around us. So, be careful when you meet me...Hehe.

[@ronmccord2121]

Thank you for spelling out the word "phorid." I was not familiar with the term . . . and accordingly I searched these "Comments" hoping someone would so do. The CC kept indicating that the word in question was "forward." This is a most interesting documentary; complete with excellent production values!

[@genuinsanity]

I was playing with a fire ant hill as a kid , I was flanked by a couple they got me on the foot . Never forgot that . A soldier during "war games" to evade "enemy team" dove into the bush to avoid being "captured " . Landed in a fire ant hill and had to lay still until " enemy patrol " passed. Bit him real bad...I don't know how he did it but he was out for a while . Very serious actually .

[@spamtownhamilton6200]

You and your buddies did NOT mess around with play time! 😂 ❤

[@jesush.christ5978]

When I was at FT Benning GA we were doing a road march at like 4am. When we take a break we lay down in the prone position with our rifles pointed outward, and I laid down on a fire ant mound. I had so many bites they made me get in the truck in case I had an allergic reaction. I learn a hard lesson that day.

[@xFallN1x]

I did the same thing in Fort Jackson .Yankees learn hard in the south.

[@Space-Stuff]

What an awesome documentary. I live in Central Florida and all I have to say is "Bring on the predator Phorid Fly"!

[@chrisfreebairn870]

Phorid fly .. it's from the insect family name, Phoridae.

[@Space-Stuff]

@@chrisfreebairn870 Thank you for the correction.

[@Micko350]

"an awesome"... Not "a awesome"

[@davedemyan3302]

Pinellas county for the last five years. I prefer the Pacific Northwest. I was weed wracking. I felt the debris hitting my shins. I stopped and still felt the debris hitting my legs. 34 bites/stings. Intense stinging sensation went away pretty quickly. Itched for a week. I don't stand still when outside. 😢

[@wellingtoncrescent2480]

As a schoolchild, I was required to read "Leiningen Versus the Ants" by Carl Stephenson, a short story from the December 1938 Esquire. It was so scary that I still remember it in my sixties, particularly the scenes where wave-after-wave of ants relentlessly attacked a human compound, even crossing moats of burning oil on the carcasses of their dead confrères.

[@Graham_Wideman]

Huh, I too had that reading assignment, around the same time, and had a similar reaction. Always thought it a bit odd that we were assigned that book.

[@howard5992]

@jessfucket likely it was used to help introduce students to "recreational reading " - reading as an entertaiment

[@urbanurchin5930]

Sounds like the basis of the Charleston Heston movie "The Naked Jungle".

[@rickmossop3733]

I read that story too (not as required reading, I just like to read). I was trying to remember the name of it. Thanks.

[@opensourceanglers8291]

​@@urbanurchin5930it was

[@danmckeown2081]

Living with fire ants in SE Queensland Australia, i was fascinated with this doco. Our government uses soya oil plus a sterilant on crushed corn. We shake it and hope that in 6 weeks there is one nest less

[@tomcarson8854]

Hey, @danm! Back in in 1962 my U.S. Navy dad was given a choice to move our family from Japan to Australia or Washington D.C. Sadly, I think Washington was imposed on him by the powers that wuz. There's a hole in my heart that should have been filled with Australia!

[@DaveBuildsThings]

@danmckeown2081 It's hard to fight a creature that's been around long before humans ever existed. They have have the upper hand from having being here and evolving for over 300 million years. The largest dragonfly fossil had a wing span of over 12 inches. Imagine that puppy sitting your lap. It was that big because there was more oxygen in the air then than there is today. It allowed to grow that big. Today they are much smaller. Evolution at work. Darwin was a genius. 👍

[@cycoklr]

I started itching just by watching this.

[@drfirechief8958]

Great Documentary. I grew up in South Louisiana and now live in South Texas. Fire Ants are a constant, almost daily consideration. It's always good to hear that nature can help with nature if we help a little and then get out of the way.

[@BornAgainCynic0086]

Get chickens, they love eating them.

[@sseltrek1a2b]

the "Borg" of nature...fascinating (and disturbing)...completely understandable why these are such a problem in your yard (and it's no fun getting stung by them)...

[@andyrbush]

I find nothing more interesting than the results of research into how nature works. Exactly what this video is.

[@wavydavy9816]

This is easily one of (if not THE) most informative and well presented documentaries about ants that I've ever seen. Thanks. Really great work! 🤗

[@Thomas-yy6rm]

Congratulations😮

[@TropicShade]

Nightmare quality! 🤣

[@bjweeks9917]

I'm Georgia the fire ants do not inhabit the wooded areas. Too much competition from other ants

[@Locutus]

You must not have seen many documentaries. Try watching the BBC Natural History's documentaries. They are some of the best documentaries in the world. They take years to film.

[@user-sb8gw6ep5v]

Why is the background music so loud and repetitive

[@jwilcox4726]

From the North the first thing you hit going down to SoCal is dry sand & ants, from small black sugar ants to fire ants that bit me all over my body when I was 3. We went to some friends house to visit. The ants were in the crack of the curb between the yard & gutter at street. That was the worst pain I have ever felt. I sat there & screamed momma ran & scooped me up, stood me up brushed off as many ash she could. Took off my clothes on the front porch and the lady of the house had a bathtub full of cool tepid water. They put me in and started on my hair the lady as mom was checking my whole butt crack front to back.Weird. But glad she always loved us so much. This was before she got disabled for life. Before she ever got to try having a job. All she did, alot, was having her family as she called it. Said she had to get it growing & wanted to have a boy for your father.

[@d.od.3463]

This is one of the most fascinating videos I've watched recently! Please continue your work and sharing with folks like me! Thank you!

[@GalvestonGuy]

Yep, nothing like accidentally stepping in a nest in the backyard. They swarm so quickly!

[@1spiralout]

".. they hitched a ride on a cargo ship and were dumped in an Alabama port." Depiction of said cargo ship goes directly to Louisiana.

[@bayourat15]

Dauphin Island Al. is the first capital of Louisiana

[@Floresta_2]

I'm Brazilian, livin in the Amazonia region and I would like to say this infernal insect is found here for every where. I have tried put an end in it in my little farm but without sucess.

[@werefeat0356]

Amdro.

[@nrnar]

Try feeding it with meat, it will stimulate the males to fly off somewhere else to form a new colony.

[@RogueReplicant]

This infernal insect, lol

[@TropicShade]

Sugar and Borax.

[@MrMambott]

We have them now in most places throughout Australia and we also have the EVEN Smaller Crazy Red Ant or Crazy Fire Ant that is even more dangerous to children , the elderly and to pets. Best of luck for to you against the Ant Army

[@151mcx]

In hawaii, we have LFA (little fire ant) they are the size of a width of a penny. They don't grip well, and if you are under a tree and the wind blows, it rains down ants...Joy... Anyway, we use all kinds of baits to get rid of them. Some work then some don't because the ants get wise to the baits. I wonder if those flies would work on LFA? Would be nice to get rid of them or find a predator that would.

[@KRAVER_]

I watch a lot of documentaries, and I gotta say this was very well researched. very well done

[@tombane5950]

I went to the patretta center last January and went down their bullet slide. I had just bought new swimming trunks which were VERY slick. When I made it to the bottom of the slide the life guard told me that it was the fastest he had seen anyone go. he said my time was 7.43 seconds which was the second fastest time on record. My cousin Lucas told me that he didn't believe me though which was really frustrating because I know he was just jealous.

[@mathewjones7663]

The longer I watch, the more I'm convinced ants work like the neurons in our brain.

[@HomelessOnline]

Please explain, I'm too dense to make the same connection on my own.

[@kapelachris9095]

Exactly my line of thought. The interactions and organisations based on chemical communication, all thats left is an elcteic impulse to interpret the circuits they continuous make.

[@djdeemz7651]

​@@HomelessOnlinebasically your neurons send signals to each other with electrical signals and this is how we do everything, they operate in a similar way but bye using pheromones and act as one thing

[@AA-iq6ev]

​@@kapelachris9095electric signals can travel trough air as electro magnetic field like in WiFi. They have antenna :😂

[@maxxibro]

Fire Ants also found in Cambodia. I used to stepped on the mount and got attacked when I was young. The horrible burning sensation and itchiness is no joke. Unsure how and when they got there but it has been there for a while now.

[@suzanne9150]

FIRE ANTS WERE FIRST BROUGHT INTO THE USA BY CARGO SHIPS IN MOBILE ALABAMA.

[@Rob-pq7mb]

I live in Australia fire ants are an increasing problem here fortunately authorities are at last getting serious about eradication. Great doco.thankyou.😮

[@joecausey8508]

Getting serious in what way? Please inform us Americans so we can follow in your footsteps.

[@bertanelson8062]

Won't be eradication, but maybe some moderation.

[@liam3104]

@@bertanelson8062 i have heard the efforts here in australia have been far more effective than the states. here in aus fire ants are spreading 4km per year while in the US its 40km and in china its 80 km

[@michaelogden5958]

Central Texas here. Those guys used to be HORRIBLE here. I believe that a large population uptick of Red Harvester Ants is reducing the fire ant population here. The Red Harvester ants are much larger and can sting, but they are not nearly as aggressive as fire ants. I let the "red ants" - as we call them - just do their thing and continue to poison fire ant colonies every chance I get. You might be surprised how quickly one can remove one's pants when unwittingly standing too close to a fire and mound. 😂

[@Enigma-Sapiens]

Very good! The documentary held my attention from the beginning to the end. Thank you!

[@frankkolmann4801]

Fire Ants are native to South Americas. In their native land Fire Ants are predated upon by a small fly. The fly predates ONLY Fire Ants. The fly lays an egg near the Fire Ants head and a small maggot crawls into the Fire Ants head. The maggot grows and eventually kill the fire ant. Unfortunately breeding enough flies to control the ants is very difficult.

[@af186]

Ants are my favorite insect, this video has given me even more respect of them, thanks great documentary!

[@waveriderz2687]

We have them here in Hawaii. Also have the tiny fire ant. A smaller, seemingly more vicious variety , that seems harder to eradicate.Most live in trees and are so tiny they are carried in wind, and rain, making their spread faster. Been treating with many methods for the last ten years, and can only keep them at bay. Have never been able to completely eradicate them!

[@AIRGUNZ_MILITIA]

corn starch poured into a kicked mound will kill that mound. a box of corn starch will treat a whole yard. bakeing soda works too, anything they can take to the queen and she eats and then the thing she eats expands and makes her explode killing the whole colony of ants, smaller ants need corn powder or baking powder . you can thank me later. THE LAST WORD

[@sicfrynut]

nothing like a nice, warm , windy day with a face full of ants !!

[@quattroturbo8961]

Diamatycus earth try that

[@spindoctor6385]

There is no way I would be able to resist an ant ball fight.

[@joeblog2672]

Especially if you happen to wear baggy pants to the fight?

[@patrickwynkoop9442]

Or just wear a bathing suit after the fight I bet you'll never want to try that again

[@spindoctor6385]

@@patrickwynkoop9442 Oh, I was planning on being the only person with amunition and therefore winning.

[@patrickwynkoop9442]

@spindoctor6385 can I recommend Brandon and his puppet masters at this point you'd probably be hailed as a hero among the people lol

[@rickeyferguson5935]

We have to be so careful by bringing in the Phorid Fly that we don't start something that will harm us later.

[@chrisfreebairn870]

Did you miss the comments about that in the video? It was mentioned several times; the species they are bringing in don't attack native ants; to get import permits they would have had to do extensive research to show there was no risk of the things you're afraid of; professional biocontrol entomologists working under strict regulatory rules.

[@78jog89]

Very interesting, informative and beautifully produced. Thanks for posting.

[@steveburton7463]

I’m a landscaper and have about a billion little white spots where I’ve been bitten by them that take years to tan afterwards . They’re definitely a nuisance and the longer they bite you before you get ‘em off , the worse the bite will itch afterwards . You just learn to smash them and go on pulling weeds . They have a habit of getting in your clothes with you though or to be standing in them kind of sucks but Still better than getting into a nest of yellowjackets by about 1000 times

[@RRaucina]

3 of us were working outside and suddenly one guy went nuts and sarted jumping around screaming, and tearing at his clothes. He he was butt naked in about 20 seconds. Maybe an allergic reaction to ants, but none were evident.

[@steveburton7463]

@@RRaucina well everyone is laughing with them that has had them attack like that , those things are vicious. I take every opportunity and pleasure to put an end to as many colonies as possible but to no avail , they’re back with 3 times as many in a week . No natural predators

[@brassteeth3355]

I get into them at least twice a year fishing. Sometimes you don't know until it's too late because they can often be hard to see.

[@kenkoeder]

I had a small farm in Mississippi and I used to love shooting fire ant mounds with my shotgun if you could kill the queen and the eggs the mound will die however stand back a bit because the ants can splatter and get on you. another thing I did is get a shovel-full from one mound and put it on another mound A war would immediately break out between mounds it was entertaining to watch and killed a lot of ants.

[@tobyw9573]

Smart move!

[@pumpupthevolume4775]

Why are you advertising your sadism streak?

[@PunaSquirrel]

🤣

[@mardus_ee]

In an ant war, one of the mounds would survive, and if each mound is made up of a different ant species, then chances are good, that the fire ant mound might still survive the war. Of course, the result would be, that the fire ant mound would still be decimated, and on survival, would rebuild the colony.

[@not.likely]

Incredible research. Thanks to all the great minds working on this phenomena

[@marleneslaght4390]

This is a lot of information many of us probably didn't know...excellent presentation. Thank you!

[@mendyboio3917]

Best fire ant documentary ever!

[@janelightning73]

Fascinating & terrifying.

[@mikielsahagun6054]

There's always a balance in nature and out of nature, no matter how Invincible one might seem

[@DaveVargas90012]

As some of my jobs have me working out doors in trees and peoples yards I've experienced these tenacious ants personally. Great documentary here thanks for the upload.

[@themauwie8933]

This was amazing. Thank you very much.

[@ANTASIA_07]

Crazy ants (yellow, black and raspberry)are exceptional fire ant killers .

[@trevordossen5271]

Moved to Florida 4 years ago and learned my lesson quick..... Fire Ants are the scariest insect, and they command serious respect and fear.

[@1971bigchap]

Another fab video, love chilling with a few vino's watching your stuff!

[@YvetteArby]

I have to say that seeing the ants getting stung by the flies is incredibly satisfying. 😈

[@chrisfreebairn870]

That footage was quite poor quality, but it's very difficult to do that well; might be better material online if you search for it; that's the kind of challenge specialist macro photographers love.

[@djo9941]

I got attacked by fire ants in Texas. I felt a bite on my elbow and looked down and couldn't see my legs! That first bite was the signal for thousands of them to bite all at once. They have venom and acid. Their heads separated from their bodies as I tried to brush them off, and they kept biting me! I was standing on their nest after a rain storm. Horrifying.

[@threeballedtomcat9380]

This documentary was absolutely incredible. Great job,and thanks for uploading this !

[@0601989m]

SO MUCH more than a documentary: comedy (deliberate&unintentional), photography, densly packed info, even the 2000´s sounding music is interesting. FANTASTIC content!!!

[@mardus_ee]

The documentary is from 2011, which proves, that some of the music is from the decade that precedes it.

[@Quidisi]

In the 70's, whenever you walked into a field, or the woods, you could pretty much guarantee that you'd get either chiggers, ticks, or fleas. Now, that just isn't the case. My friends and i have speculated that, as much of a pain as fire ants are - maybe they have made the fields and woods a lot more pleasant to walk through.

[@KutWrite]

I got a case of chiggers in the early 70s. Not fun at all!

[@TheBeefSlayer]

Heard that. Here in Ky I was walking through and was cussing myself for not having big spray and never got a tick. Couldn’t believe it. We don’t have that many fire ants though.

[@MuradBeybalaev]

I, for one, welcome our new ant overlords.

[@nrnar]

Not a single of God's creatures were created in vain.

[@RogueReplicant]

​@@nrnarExcept you! 👊

[@jeffzeiler346]

really cool, well presented doc. loved the wax demo - and the brief remark about its history. tyvm.

[@VinhLai]

What a wonderful documentary! It's amazing to watch. I captivated my attention from the beginning til the end. Well done !

[@glennreed8153]

What a pleasant surprise. Thanks for making brilliant content

[@poethnicjusticepodcast]

As someone who's studied ants as a hobby for the past several years, I learned a great deal from this documentary. I knew about them creating the rafts, but I have no idea but they made it that flexible nor did I know about them being able to sense the weight of the raft and when to reposition themselves to compensate. That thing about their antennas being so sensitive that a tea spoon pheromones could span a Trail over 100 million miles was truly astonishing. I also had no idea they were attracted to the electronics like that. I wonder if the fact that their antennas is so sensitive that there's something about the electricity that mimics something else that attracts them to it. God's creations never cease to amaze me and to add to His glory. I also think they did an excellent job with the musical score. Documentaries like these in the fact that I do a podcast of the only reason I'm still on KZbin. Very well done.

[@publicprofilename4273]

Great show. Great production quality, and damn... fireants are BEASTS!

[@user-mh4qd4xm2b]

They are the most successful, I saw one piloting a Yacht just last week.

[@brianmck7363]

When I was a kid I put my hand down in the grass not realizing there was a bunch of fire ants down there!! I soon found out why they are called fire ants!!! The pain was so intense I never thought it would end!!!😢

[@revelationtrain7518]

Very informative documentary. One of the very best

[@DeadPixel1105]

Fire ants were an absolute menace in Parris Island. Every current or former US Marine that attended boot camp at Parris Island has their horror stories.

[@CaptainJ.S]

Amazing documentary !! thank you for sharing

[@kanealoha]

Hahaha - just starting this documentary and catching on to the fact that it was filmed to support 3D. That would potentially be a lot of fun with an insect such as the fire ant.

[@wacwildlife]

The footage is sharp and the moment is amazing. Have a nice day all

[@Leogalassi75]

I live in the brazilian savana region and the fire ants are probably native here. When I was young they were endemic in any lawn, and so were a small species of termites. But it`s been a long time, maybe decades since I`ve seen any. Something seems to have killed them of. Sure, there`s a good side to it, but it`s also scary - what`s happened to those little critters? Just like the city sparrows, many small animals were everywhere and now they`re gone or hard to see.

[@incorrigiblerogue1193]

Your ants are loose. We need your to come pick them up please.

[@Leogalassi75]

@@incorrigiblerogue1193 LOL! Seems like they chose to be next to you. So, they're yours now. Please take good care of them - they're annoyng but cute.

[@user-yc5ms1dk5w]

That’s interesting.🤔. That’s something for us all to think about. I’m in the southern part of North Carolina, USA.., 59yr Native American woman and we didn’t have fire ants when I was growing up. I moved away from the area for over 35yrs, came back and here they are.

[@JeanCarlos-dm1qe]

Cara agora você me fez pensar e isso é verdade, antigamente o jardim de casa era cheio delas, era comum levar picadas mas ultimamente não vi mais nenhuma dessas formigas

[@4YOUBYANGELICA]

60 years ago, I would be found sitting on the ground watching ants. I was always fascinated.

[@blessedbeauty2293]

- 5:42 I'm itching right now lmaoo. Ants are super intelligent little beasts !! 🐜

[@petebrandon8164]

A fascinating and well presented documentary on this remarkable insect! I loved the mixture of field study, laboratory investigation, and the charming inclusion of interested young children in the garden - well done! 😊

[@jujupedals3430]

so this is what people who dont live in the real world do with other peoples money (grant research). With so many other more useful topics to address, like homeless, like war, like governmental corruption and wasteful spending, proving or disproving climate change, addressing africa's famine problem, or taking a stance on Covid one way or the other, abortion rights, one way or the other. Ants is the topic of choice. Sounds alittle detached from reality to spend so much money and time and effort on something so trivial. But again, this is what people do who dont live in the reality of their times, and do it with other peoples money

[@joecausey8508]

@@jujupedals3430 Somehow I would bet you live in an area not inhabited by fire ants. Here in Alabama they are a HUGE problem.

[@jujupedals3430]

@@joecausey8508 what kind of silly assumption is that. How do you even connect my statement with yours. Than again you said youre from alabama. bana-neerneerneer

[@joecausey8508]

@@jujupedals3430 If you lived in an area inhabited by fire ants you'd think it was a more serious problem than you let on. One can't enjoy themselves while in the yard for watching for and worrying about fire ants getting on you.

[@arj282]

did you somehow miss the numerous real world, behavioral insights and robotics applications derived from studying fire ants...maybe you should watch this AMAZING documentary again, to its end,@@jujupedals3430

[@infomercialwars]

I'm in TX and got a bad habbit of gardening while wearing flip flops and those damn things would regularly bite me so often at one place I lived that at first it was just a little tiny blister but the more regularly I kept getting bit the more severe the reactions became. The worst time I was pulling weeds and accidentally stepped in one of their mounds and didn't notice until I started feeling the bites that time really sucked they bit me probably 100-200 times they were latched all up my leg and my whole foot/ankle looked like a giant blister

[@adamnpwilder]

Incredible mind-blowing documentary. Thank you.

[@KhhvfHyhkhf]

You guys did a GREAT job. Thanks.

[@lorencarlin2087]

The camera work is just amazing! Thank you for this great video!

[@Halcyon1861]

Where I live and hunt in central NC near the sandhills fire ants are everywhere. Some years back during turkey season I was moving around calling and I moved out to the big powerline cut. In the distance I saw large redish rocks on the powerline cut. I didn't remember that part of the landscape. i got near and realized these rocks the size of a small boulder were actually fire ant hills. Waist high...

[@barkingdog365]

I visit a Florida park daily in the summer and I'm always being tasted by fire ants.

[@Tavat]

@@barkingdog365Man, picnics must suck in Florida.

[@mick7even]

@@Tavatit’s not the only thing that sucks in Florida

[@jamfamily4287]

​@@Tavatthey don't.

[@RRaucina]

@@mick7even Always trying to kill you; The ocean, fire ants and Florida

[@rsismoreira]

Expectacular documentary! Thanks guys!

[@dolphinguam9552]

An excellent production that captures everyone’s attention.

[@tomcarson8854]

A couple of years ago, at age 65, outrageous life circumstances left me homeless and penniless with no possessions or ID in Southern California's high desert. At first I thought that meth-heads and other lost souls who wander the brush looking for someone to victimize were my biggest threat. Little did I know that fire ants would instill in me such a profound perspective! THANK YOU, FIRE ANTS for reminding me that there are more powerful entities than than we pathetic humans!

[@livehabesha4642]

I wish you all the best, may Allah make your life easier and protect you from all danger.

[@tomcarson8854]

@@livehabesha4642 This bizarre journey has taken me through things I couldn't have imagined, even 17 days in PRISON! I took me a while to see the hand of Allah guiding me. I'm being prepared for a purpose.

[@83fleafan]

Positive vibes to you, without the need of evoking an imaginary friend!

[@Trench777]

Best of fortune to you, man. Might want to reconsider that "pathetic human" viewpoint, though...we are matter created by the universe that is arranged so complexly that it is able to contemplate itself. Not very pathetic, imo.

[@jujupedals3430]

"pathetic humans" - what planet are you living on. The ability to travel the skies, ability to transmit data and enormous speeds to people around the world, ability to communicate with anyone in the world, audio, visual, ability to speed across the planet at over 200 MPH, ability to create movies and songs as we have, ability to form complex governments and even create weaponry that could destroy the entire world 100s of times over. How are humans pathetic when compared to a scavenger insect that any human could destroy by the millions in a day? Interesting choice of words

[@davgar4241]

Love this channel. My favourite pass time

[@leekendall7155]

Excellent work, the info in this was huge. Well done to all involved.

[@thekongstocks]

One of the Greatest -if not, theeGREATEST DOCUMENTARIES I Hath Ever Seen!!!

[@markr.1984]

When I lived in Florida I used to get stung by fire ants all the time. It's not a bite, it's a sting and it's very itchy and irritating. They bite but only to hold on so they can sting you better! By the next day or even the same day, the irritation disappeared. So not all that bad, at least they didn't bother me too badly.

[@Micko350]

Here in Queensland (Brisbane, Australia) I noticed a Nest around a newly installed "Speed Sign" on my Naturestrip. I reported them to the Government, which was a complete waste of time & effort & about 6 weeks later(I was giving the Govt time to "git er done" stupidly) I went & bought some Bifenthrin & treated the Nest myself. A couple of weeks after that I was re-potting some Plants & picked up a bag of Potting Mix (which I buy 10 bags at a time & Store in my Shed), my arms were covered in Ants. After brushing them off, I stupidly opened up the bag as I didn't realise they were in fact Fire Ants on my Arms so unable to put 2&2 together right then. I realised they were Fire Ants (against the dark coloured Potting Mix) & they went crazy spreading everywhere! I've found them 3 times on my Property & have since found out Professionals flood the Nests with at least 500ml of Poison when I was only using about 100ml so not killing entire Nest). My Kids found another Nest on the Naturestrip a Month or so ago(so 5 times total now) & I flooded the bejesus out of it so fingers crossed!

[@nessvampire]

Awesome.. Thank you for posting..

[@jackbelk8527]

As a Boy Scout in the '50s, we went on fire ant hunts with 4-Hers documenting progress in N Florida. Sadly all we did was document it. The bait poison came along later.

[@maxheadrom3088]

I had a friend who was part of that study to use flies to control the ants. He was very smart but he died in a bus accident. AFAIK, the fire ants come from Brazil. We are no that allergic to them, though. I hope the biological control project works!