Mating frenzies, sperm hoards, and brood raids: The life of a fire ant queen - Walter R. Tschinkel

[@Trrippy_Shades]

“At first glance this might be a disturbing sight” -yes

[@omokok1877]

Aaah yes

[@marcusjackson5837]

TEDx: honey bees Monsanto: Thanks Monsanto

[@Tamizushi]

@@marcusjackson5837 Technically, that's not Monsanto's fault, the neonicotinoid pesticides which are now recognized as the main cause of the bee colony collapse disorder are manufactured mainly by Bayer, by Syngenta and by Valent. With that being said, your mistake isn't the worst you could have done. Monsanto is owned by Bayer, so while you're not pointing at the right company, you are at least pointing at the right "family" of companies.

[@marcusjackson5837]

@@Tamizushi go with the joke hun.

[@dinamosflams]

Yes was a really insightful and emphatic person

[@sreejasrivaram8250]

love how they made fire ants look like cute little creatures while in fact they are super creepy if looked closely. awesome animation as always!!

[@JamesTheFoxeArt]

Ruby Red reminds me of adventure time

[@xxXXRAPXXxx]

Mate you probably look super creepy too if looked closely.

[@twilightundersky8658]

xxXXRAPXXxx, god.

[@ivyvetniss3148]

@@JamesTheFoxeArt fact or regular show

[@JamesTheFoxeArt]

Fx_ Vetniss not really

[@blacklarry998]

I love how they put a lot of effort to make the animation enjoyable

[@jenniferl.8111]

Yeah ikr 😂

[@davielawrence3773]

This is animated my Lisa Vertudaces, you can find her on Instagram. I love her style 😊

[@scratchit759]

It reminds me of ant-venture time's style

[@melollii4857]

Anybody else getting Adventure Time vibes from the animation.

[@angkhoa1216]

Dam, the art style look alike too

[@cesartavarezcorp.7959]

Yup

[@what2toinquarantine64]

not really

[@user-wl5gz9vi7x]

No

[@what2toinquarantine64]

nope

[@watchspotting]

I hate the fact that the end made me feel actual sadness for the passing of a fire ant queen

[@ayushupadhyay801]

She was a good ant

[@Zooollieg]

@@ayushupadhyay801 Indeed she was very inspirational

[@alfreioblanoreborn3537]

Yeah. Big sads.

[@purple-guy9586]

same i swear i was starting to feel sad when i heard she was going to pass

[@kiarona.]

@@Zooollieg did you mean "ant-spirational"?

[@sergiovela7686]

I cried, I laughed, I cheered, and cried again. Long live the Queen!!!

[@yourladbrennen3130]

hmmm............

[@greenteckgreece5180]

Long live the QUEEN (i am not English but i like you culture so much)

[@maizahmohdabdullah5916]

in june Them queen ants be dancing tho

[@pnnk-tyip]

Lol same My mom was like are u ok?

[@yourladbrennen3130]

@@greenteckgreece5180 and now i instantly like you. LoNg LiVe ThE qUeEn

[@NitemareMoon]

This had way more drama and character development than I was expecting from a video about fireants.

[@creativewanderer9577]

Ikkk😢

[@monarchatto6095]

“Rachel did not just raid Betty’s colony”

[@finnkyrie4569]

This video has more coherent beginning, climax, and conclusion than most films produced today

[@QuailTale]

Exactly 😂

[@Stornix175]

Tru

[@sharjeelazeem2753]

Basically the whole video: EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN THE OTHER FIRE ANTS ATTACKED

[@erykaemilien77]

Avatar!!!

[@ajw5363]

Uuuuuh the nostalgia it hurts!

[@audreylitslo7057]

I'M NOT READY FOR THE NETFLIX ADAPTATION!!!😭😭

[@karama5562]

Audrey Calixtro when does it come out

[@hereLiesThisTroper]

@@erykaemilien77 *ANTvatar

[@jayaflower]

Love is in the air, has a completely different meaning now.

[@Zooollieg]

Lol

[@lilytheangel.]

IoI

[@moonmapping3963]

Lol

[@r0m_gr948]

Lol

[@XD_lilchicken]

Lol

[@rutherfordisthebest2108]

This animation makes the ants seem so cute

[@thalys1015]

so true

[@ricardobr1493]

They Are

[@SuzysRedStripes]

I mean they kind of are Cute

[@AntsCanada]

Don't you just love fire ants? I know I do! Ant love forever!

[@ERN468.]

Weird how this got lost in the sea of comments even though 1 in every 5 comments mention you.

[@milk-u8d]

knew you would come!

[@jirehchoo2151]

Long live the fire nation!

[@zyrelotucan4853]

When I saw this video, I first thought this channel!😂❤️

[@FlamingTacos10]

I didn’t think I’d see you here I’ve been watching for 5 years

[@GCDio]

"After 8 years her reign ends because of some KZbinr dumping molten aluminium into the nest"

[@paulbechayda7750]

true

[@josuepalomares6820]

Or little kids

[@Rinocapz]

Oof this hurts

[@davidsmithsmith5679]

and thats how we will also be destroyed............

[@hecateo88]

An ending suitable for a Game of Thrones character!

[@thetruelemonlover5553]

So basically: The fire nation once lived in harmony.Everything changed when the other fire nation attacked

[@TheRealRaymond]

Y e s

[@Basic_Cat]

The nations include: The Grease Fire Nation (Brown) The Magic Fire Nation (Purple) The Hot Fire Nation (Blue) The White Fire Nation (A secret nation held by all the white children bois)

[@OxSo181]

C O R R E C T

[@christanbalnius99]

Omg your correct

[@sheilajones219]

I made demon sounds when I read this.

[@giantwarchicken1577]

I once saw a queen with one wing digging her nest, it was really fascinating, she would go in and come out a few seconds later with a mouthful of dirt

[@omarkhalili6948]

I would have helped her tbh

[@EvilSantaTheTrue]

Her colony is probably thriving

[@merikapulami]

“Poisonous venom” 🤨🤔 pretty sure those two are different things

[@ygotsvlog3762]

Lol venom and poison also has similarity

[@merikapulami]

@@ygotsvlog3762 They do have some similarities, but they are two different things,

[@ygotsvlog3762]

Yeah i know

[@einsteinboricua]

TedEd contradicting itself, especially from a previous video explaining the differences.

[@entropi3084]

if u drink venom u will be fine as it will not cross to the blood stream . but some venoms are also poisonous means u cant digest them safely

[@atharvap1994]

I will from now on consciously drop crumbs of food around ant colonies that I see and whisper formal royal greetings.

[@_egghead]

Yeah, the colony early stage seems to be rough for the kid workers. If they don't find any food nearby, they'll all die early. So credits to you on helping, surely they will never bite you. Lol

[@smileandlaughs]

That is if they don't bite first. Red ants hurt!

[@jeykjust772]

I shall do they same. Nice owl face btw

[@ziril3972]

help out native ants over fire ants, they're invasive species. might be hard, but they still have alotta advantages that make em successful like that

[@eatdetergent]

[drops tiny piece of bread into an ant colony] Your highness,

[@TheLevarileka]

Why do I feel invested in the struggles of a ant queen? Damn you TED-ed and your high quality educational content!

[@TruthOrDare22]

Fun Fact: Ants developed agriculture before humans did. There are species of ants that raise aphids like livestock. They protect them, heard them to the best grazing areas, and "milk" them for the sugary byproduct they make. Other species of ants grow fungus. They cultivate the fungus in their hives, collect food and water the fungus needs to grow, and then harvest the fruit-like material that the fungus creates. Pretty Crazy.

[@ImperfectWeapons]

Strange to imagine how that behavior develops naturally in such literally bug-brained creatures. Puzzling.

[@kel_1266]

Here before 2k+ likes

[@TruthOrDare22]

​@@ImperfectWeapons it is incredible and as you said puzzling how simple organisms can act in such complex ways. there's a channel that has videos on microscopic organisms and I do not understand how a single celled thing with no nervous system can literally track, hunt, and kill its prey like it was a tiger or wolf.

[@namlehai2737]

journey to the microcosmos, isnt it?

[@TruthOrDare22]

@@namlehai2737 Yup, that's it.

[@The_bonsai_tree_nerd]

"we have to forage for food to revive their thin ill queen" me and my sister searching the fridge for my mom after a cold

[@suserano7566]

Thats cute

[@sleepydreamer4175]

Aww!

[@Chadmiral]

Aawww

[@aaronvalleytrees]

relateable

[@EvilSantaTheTrue]

P

[@rqb6731]

I love how cute this video is, just makes me smile

[@hannhladybuggirl89]

Heck yes.

[@TORchic1]

Immediately watched this after watching Ants Canada's update about their fire ant colony. RIP Fire Nation :c

[@Penguinmanereikel]

TORchic1 what happened?

[@MrFish-ei9ty]

@@Penguinmanereikel queen died after 5 years and whole colony died out

[@TORchic1]

@@Penguinmanereikel The queen of his fire ant colony died some time ago and slowly his fire ant colony died. His latest video was about him discovering that and being left with like only two fire ants.

[@beani_sprout9618]

😭😭😭 I miss themmm

[@lel3450]

Rafi Kazi *THE WATER NATION ATTACKED*

[@sebastianelytron8450]

Recently found a bunch of ants running around together in the corner of my bedroom. I counted ten of them. I felt bad for them so I made them a tiny cardboard box that they can live in. Technically that makes me their landlord, and they are my... tenants.

[@shosty575]

That's . . . fANTastic

[@Midnightmuse_26]

Nice one 😂😂

[@wakilahmedberten526]

Lol

[@aleonflex6611]

This gotta be the best comments of 2038

[@Bkn_zv]

Get outta here, damn damn it cant believe I fell for that and actually chuckled xD

[@dannyarafa7874]

Does this art style remind anyone else of Adventure Time?

[@XC11301991]

Yes

[@falnica]

I know, right?

[@PRGME7]

Danny Arafa your comment has been copyright claimed by me

[@dannyarafa7874]

PRGME7 I don’t even know who you are 😒

[@PRGME7]

Danny Arafa good! Then I’m copyrighting comments just like KZbin!

[@MikasCreationsWasTaken]

Fun fact: ant queens have eyes on the top of their head and it looks like a crown Edit: Thank yall for the likes!

[@strawberry2015]

wait wha-

[@Restrictedeightteen]

The ocelli, I believe it is called. Looks cool as lol

[@user-pl6bs4tb4z]

I’m sorry wha- oh yea I guess I’ve seen it too *shuders*

[@villagecommenter8262]

Edit: Thanks for the likes!

[@Username-le4eq]

@@suggestor4022 really arent those just to detect dark and lights, cuz lights are always above

[@Marzipanv]

Ah, so that’s what the ants in my house are doing right now

[@gertrudechumblegobb]

Are you alright?

[@Bascanska_Ploca]

@@gertrudechumblegobb why wouldnt he be alright?

[@MatthewConnellan-xc3oj]

If there was a secret fire ant colony in my house, I would try to find more ants for it.

[@justsomeguy9206]

This animation makes me happy

[@stupididiotlol]

wholesome ants

[@noiryork]

It's really well done! I couldn't stop laughing at the flying dancing ants!

[@knaldperlen6729]

I'm a simple man with simple needs.

[@fauxvier8519]

THIS WAS TOO ADORABLE AND FILLED WITH DRAMA IT WAS INSANE!

[@fatcat5870]

well, i got too attached to the queen and cried at the end of this video.

[@Job-b4d]

Same man 😩

[@calle3193]

I'm losing my breath laughing at the intro where the ants were partying in the air!!!

[@kaushikgupta9490]

*"And Everything changed when the fire nation arrived".....*

[@mynameismmandimheretosay7979]

*attacked Unless that was intentional

[@_crunchyleaf_398]

Well, I think you mean The Pheonix Empire

[@someonesgenericfish0]

Ah yes you are a man of culture.

[@slowbrofriend6526]

Ants Canada: hey that’s my name

[@santiagobriseno3751]

Long live the pheonix empire

[@PowWowAnimations]

This sounds like a plot for a movie.

[@awake7586]

Ikr

[@dudepro1736]

the cartoon is called avatar the last air bender

[@furyfossil4407]

dudepro173 Antvatar: The Last Broodstealer

[@markmarquez3105]

The animation reminds me of adventure time

[@mahavirprasad209]

Me too Thinking about Adventure time

[@John-xi6jr]

Same!

[@cheesestickspartyagain9667]

same Dam i miss that show

[@MinigunL5]

Ants truly are beautiful creatures. People keep them as pets, they make wonderful pets. You can watch all of the interactions in this video with your own eyes. Btw, reply to this comment if you want to learn more!

[@vantablacc3264]

Ted Ed is really good at making you feel remorse over an ant. And its a good thing.

[@lindaschmid447]

The animation style is killing me, it’s so cute, 😂

[@amychansavaeng1406]

Linda Schmid ikr 😂😂

[@julianamacapagal2693]

Cute

[@eddycabreja3332]

It actually reminds me of Adventure Time

[@Tabby_CatMeow]

THE CHARACTERS FASCHES THO :3

[@raz0229]

Did you know? _Fire ants are actually NOT made out of fire_

[@unclekanethetiberiummain1994]

Gonna need a source for that.

[@reynango9645]

I disagree!

[@Liz-lq8hw]

Fake new

[@victoriapschen]

Their stingers might as well be made of fire though, those things burn.

[@michpillejera]

Source?

[@roysevilla1362]

Well, these feels like a synopsis of a good tv series.

[@jeromealday614]

I feel Game of Thrones vibe

[@savagefoxdesigns6692]

You mean a solenopsis of a good tv series? LMAO .... FYI solenopsis is the genus. AKA scientific name classification.

[@bennyboiart7781]

I loved how you guys were able to convey all of the information in the video as if it were the compelling narrative of a medieval monarch whose power waxed and waned over time. Really great video!

[@sukithebean7920]

The art style of this video is *JUST* like an Adventure Time episode, brings back memories

[@calico_queen8976]

AntMan: I'm gonna make you emotionally attached to an ant. TED-Ed: I'm about end this man's whole career....

[@yeetusmann1796]

AntsCanada: Allow me to introduce myself.

[@Raccon_Detective.]

@@yeetusmann1796 I love that guy.

[@shko1259]

@@Raccon_Detective. I love the brand new volcano terrarium for the fire ants in the ant house!

[@ZaxorVonSkyler]

This was so epic I want to write a novel about it!

[@CristalMediumBlue]

Called "game of thrones"

[@CuddleFish124]

I know right? I was just thinking the same thing!

[@twilightundersky8658]

I feel bad for the queen though, she looks so cute

[@matchalatte5415]

A song of fire and ice. Already written dear

[@bananalord8575]

I was thinking of making a strategy game

[@TheFerretofEarth]

Ants colonies: Let’s have tiny ants wars Humans and water hose: I gonna end this ant’s career

[@crazychicken8290]

don't forget the raft

[@mebin3059]

boom bam padabap boom POW

[@YA_zii-ml]

ohhh noooo

[@catwhite905]

@@crazychicken8290 or the 02 bubbles in the Ants Canada video my ants showed me something amazing or something like that the big o2 bubbles

[@icecreamsandwich8809]

Can we just talk about your epic username for a sec tho

[@derpymink6845]

Queen ant: I’m found the perfect spot and I will live here forever with my colony Me with my water hose: *N O-*

[@aidangm7419]

5:02 That cat must have had some sorrow for the death of that queen

[@redcharget5894]

Video: life of an ant queen Me: *t h i c c queen*

[@qharemswagbola7159]

FUNNY

[@maizahmohdabdullah5916]

D A M N S H E B E T H I C C

[@manwithahat7026]

The queen is adorable

[@user-fy7hx9gd6u]

Bruh this is like adventure time style art style Oof I miss adventure time

[@tobydude7462]

Same man, when is that reboot arriving

[@PRGME7]

Jared that’s my comment man! Edit: your comment has been copyright claimed by me

[@pr4_kp]

MrMuffin16 it’s just a short series continuation

[@lazysynergy]

"Come along with me" is such a nostalgic song

[@ga.y.meofthrone]

“The ant world is a tumult, a noisy world of pheromones being tossed back and forth.” Ha, I think you mean high school.

[@blockydogy1188]

good one

[@kpopinexpert6324]

@@blockydogy1188 h ki

[@kpopinexpert6324]

@@blockydogy1188 l.

[@adamswift5555]

I've never felt so many emotions for ants in my entire life.

[@chailatte8559]

Human: steps on lots of ants Ants:WE HAVE LOST 3000 ANTS QUEEN HOW DO WE REBUILD THE POPULATION?? 2 seconds later Rain Rip colony

[@user-wl5gz9vi7x]

Rip ant colony ????-2020

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

3:33 I love the ant stuck to the lollipop! 😂🐜🍭

[@Kurorito]

3:30 ants eat rice, YES 3:33 ants eat worms, also true 3:34 ants eat candies, why not? But since when an ant have a mandible so strong they could snap a diamond ring? 3:35

[@Kurorito]

@GreenX before sugar cube

[@savagefoxdesigns6692]

One thing they don't eat is there own Brood. That is something that was false in this story.

[@user-nk8zx1yw8s]

The Savage Method No they do, a lot of the times the queens and workers will consume other colony’s brood and infertile brood that is not needed by the colony.

[@zatzu]

It's one of those candy rings

[@mehmetsaiterkan9622]

Fire ants spraying acid?

[@userr33lllllllllllll]

I remember me and my friend dug up a HUGE ant hill and we saw the ants running away. We dug up the eggs or larvae things and the other ants were carrying them away. I don’t know why we did these but those ants were probably pissed 🐜 😤

[@its_aj251]

Thats just crewl. 😡😠😡😠😓😓😢😢😥😥😥

[@userr33lllllllllllll]

AJ Limjap HAHAHAHA i remember posting this comment ages ago

[@fredricknoe3114]

I remember putting a log on the fire, and then seeing a bunch of ant's run out. Forgot the species.

[@ralado31]

I'm definitely doing this

[@humanperson7646]

Ants: Moving day

[@jeremiahmartinez7964]

4:53 is the saddest anime death ever

[@mrorange159]

Haha love the earth worm yelling as it's being squished down the ant hole and the millipede...pretty cute 🤣🤣🤣

[@mypalal80]

The animation and art style reminds me of Adventure Time

[@litrim1285]

Same here.

[@PRGME7]

My Pal Al your comment has been copyright claimed by me

[@qpauline100]

I god Steven universe vibes from the backgrounds

[@kojoattah114]

Imagine being a queen ant and working hard to build your colony finally achieving that goal but then some guy pours molten aluminum into your home

[@AGeniusDexter]

“Winter Is Coming...” Queen Fire Ant, circa 2020

[@Blox-sk2ik]

2:12 ant: see`s purple ant also ant: **cute happy ant noises** *blue ant has entered the chat* both ants: **shocked ant noises**

[@tomasinamayes3782]

Actually for some species the queen feeds them a self made soup from muscle tissues in her back and that raises the nanitics.

[@oishd6077]

The title of the vid is a bit of a roller coaster from the start to the end..😂😂😂

[@CrusaderINVICTUS07]

RIP fire nation from the brothers and sisters of AC family

[@lesmercredis]

And y'all thought Cersei Lannister was intense

[@141_x]

I thought only leafcutter ants collect leaves.* Oh well. *3:14

[@yehudatheodoros6547]

that part about the daughters helping the queen overthrow warmed my heart

[@ivangalazo1496]

The animation is everything. Simple, but just what we needed

[@mohdzain1741]

8 years! Must be centuries in ant years

[@savagefoxdesigns6692]

Considering the average worker ant lives 1-2 months, its many many brood generations. The queen is like there god that outlives them all.

[@thelittleagustus.2292]

@@savagefoxdesigns6692 so we can assume a month is 30 years or so to an ant....12 times 30 is 360 times eight is 2880 ant queens live 2880 ant years

[@mekong5785]

Maybe I'll think twice before slaughtering a whole colony of ants now.

[@mathgasm8484]

nah I will slaughter them all in south Texas.

[@user-nk8zx1yw8s]

no kill the invasive fire ants, you’ll be doing a favour to the environment and other ants.

[@etheron1235]

Me being simultaneously being bitten by ants: Maybe

[@bustamove87931]

You better

[@gmdrandom6287]

I kill them they hurt and invasive.

[@hiraimomoshusband5330]

I am a member of a facebook group where we all pretend to be ants in an ant colony. And DAMN i cried and smiled a lot. Very educational❤

[@SketchedDoughnut]

I like how positive the ants are always.

[@spookypancake573]

I really loved this. It reminded me of Adventure Time. It had a lot of similar humor, like when the queen swung the door open and her nest rushed in. This was really well-made and entertaining.

[@PanzerMan332]

Never thought I'd feel bad for fire ants.

[@Coouge]

Better than the movies we’re getting these days.

[@erikmarquez1951]

Incredible video. I love the history of the ant queen. Long live the queen!!!

[@caml7108]

Honestly this animation is my favourite out of any other TED-ED video

[@marino1805]

As an ant lover this made my day

[@marino1805]

@PrinzVonLangdelberg yeah, i still havent started, but i really want to one day

[@velesmudri4533]

Are you from serbia or Croatia

[@analogicaleuphimism2078]

No one: Absolutely no one: Me: dAt AnT *dUmMY ThIcc*

[@여김명란-z1s]

Fun fact: ant queens have eyes on the top of their head and it looks like a crown

[@Yusuf-ke5iu]

@@여김명란-z1s copied. Bot.

[@Tomahawak6712]

@@Yusuf-ke5iu Bot aswell.

[@Tomahawak6712]

@@Yusuf-ke5iu Bot aswell.

[@overcookedwater1947]

This gives me an adventure time vibe

[@PRGME7]

Chris P Bacon your comment has been copyright claimed by me

[@ashbycayton2051]

Besides killing and stinging they’re pretty cool

[@ayanda1099]

When he said “having secured the..” I expected him to say having secured the bag😂👀

[@Ayumu2898]

Aww I was rooting for our queen til the very end. :( This made me sad.

[@zaworldo3189]

See when you make animate ants like this I feel bad destroying ant hills.

[@yuhnuh]

literally "YAS QUEEN"

[@TearHerWrist]

Has to be the cutest and one of the most well done animations done on TED

[@samuellouis4940]

This animation legit brings joy to my day

[@Big_Fan_just_generally]

One of the best and most humorous animations so far, in my opinion! Great work

[@PRGME7]

This reminds me of adventure times art style

[@katiexu7785]

1:23 *ant queen digs a tunnel* *Camera moves down* Me: Wait how are you already in the chamber

[@LazyMiso]

Okay but like the animation is absolutely the cutest

[@kalvon]

Ant: Ahh, what a wonderful day to work ! A kid: Hi Ant: It's him again!!!!!

[@nikhilmehra5559]

And i thought my life was difficult

[@Tinker_Guild]

2:52 Then everything changed when the Fire queen attacked.

[@raz0229]

Fire ants: **peacefully romancing in their mating season** KZbinrs: _Lets put this molten aluminum in fire ants hill_

[@robloxiasbestrobloxiangame9768]

If a queen ant survives all the trouble she can live I think 17 to 18 years

[@thatonemulattokid.1847]

Damn?! Really that long?

[@reyoo_blahhhhh]

The ant queen looks adorable! And real life creepy---

[@balindakartika6470]

shotout to the scientist who dedicated his time studying and observing fire ants it's so detailed I can't😭

[@123igotyourknee]

0:32 *casual twerking ant noises*

[@jingh8085]

Lollllll

[@benokhattirach310]

LMAO I'm choked

[@defnoteid]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@sometimesumo5325]

Loooool

[@turtle2774]

LAMO

[@carlyk210]

Uncanny coincidence that this would be released after Ants Canada's sad announcement

[@r.a4623]

When we used to have school assemblies in the summer, those ants from the mating season use to fall on us from the sky... Glad I heard their story.

[@orange-one]

Ants are the most fascinating animal imo

[@johnpro2847]

The fire ant team visited our neighbourhood recently (outer Brisbane Australia) and laid baits.. only slows them down it would seem...