The Insane Biology of: Leafcutter Ants

[@myrmepropagandist]

Huge amateur ant nerd here. Love the video and the visuals. I have a minor quibble. OK I'm a little confused when she suggests queen alates may need multiple mating in order to have different castes of workers. It's my understanding what determines if a worker is a major or minor is mostly how much they are fed by their older sisters as larvae. And not all ants with polymorphism practice multiple mating. The first reason she mentions, that it protects from disease is more likely. However this is a notoriously difficult question in myrmecology so I will be hitting the books!

[@KingZetsubou]

Polymorphic species produce different castes as needed, and is often dependant on how much food they have currently. Typically a queen will only start to produce majors and super majors if there is enough food to feed them and the rest of the colony. I don't believe mating with multiple males, has any effect on caste diversity. Bonus fact, some ant species use their majors as giant food banks, nearly bursting with nutrition to then feed to the rest of the colony via trophallaxis.

[@OfficialSamuelC]

It is confusing as she does later say the queen changes what is fed/nutrients to change the type.

[@yukionna9195]

How I understand it is that she's saying the biodiversity that comes from multiple mates is what allows for the physical diversity. with little knowledge on the subject its most likely a mix of genetics and resources that can impact how the ants develop.

[@mattk6101]

I agree. I think that it is food related as opposed to gene related. Imo

[@realscience]

its probably a bit of both. I don't think we fully know how much each influences it

[@lars3509]

Be advised: "It's called obligate multiple mating and it is natural" will not save your marriage.

[@realscience]

correct lol unless you are an Atta queen

[@pulverizedpeanuts]

​@@realscienceyeah, ig you'll have to call ur wife atta queen (instead of atta girl), and that should do it

[@J31]

@@realscience ...and you're married to a beta ant

[@freddyP300]

Currently doing my PhD research on Leafcutter ants 🐜 so I will be watching very closely lol

[@lusciouslucius]

give us some fun fact about them

[@SaptakDatta]

Hey could you tell that what aspect of them you are studying about??? Is it about their mandibles or something like biochemistry??? Just a little curious 😅

[@freddyP300]

@@lusciouslucius Sure one thing not mentioned in the video (and not a spolier about something were gonna publish in the future lol) is their colonies are actually a triple symbiosis as the ants also have a relationship with bacteria that live on their exoskeleton that they also deposit on the fungus to stop it from getting sick.

[@AlbequerqueJoe]

It's terrifying there's going to be another "doctor" out there with a youtube education.

[@Warwipf]

@@AlbequerqueJoe Use every tool at your disposal. I don't have a PhD, but I did my bachelor's thesis the same way. I watched a couple of videos on the topic before reading actual research papers because even though YT might be surface-level or partially incorrect it's still a good way to ease yourself into a new topic. If I ever did a PhD I'd do it the same way.

[@michaeljohnson1576]

No way! I literally just watched your Insane Biology of ants video from 3 years ago last night while going to bed and I get treated to this gem today! Thank you so much!

[@MrHotBagel]

23:40 i wonder if this is how "a million ants" from rick and morty got his name

[@rbach2]

2:44 "these little guys are F-ing farmers" Instantly subscribed FOREVER. SPEAKING LIKE A HUMAN IS MUCH APPRECIATED!

[@alp6502]

You should watch the Mola video😂

[@MasterPleeb]

Was there an edit? For me it just says "These little guys are farmers"

[@Watermelon43564]

Several baby daddies, 3 to 8 sperm donations at once?? 😳 Call it what you want but the Queen Ant belongs to the streets 😂

[@mattk6101]

Prostitution is the oldest profession.

[@Jayprakash-v9p]

Love Your Vids. Thank you for such amazing content

[@ThalerMan92]

Easily one of my favorite species. Imagine if they combined with Herder ants

[@mrjoe332]

Leaf ants need a 4X game. I can already see myself throwing 70 hours on it and forgetting to tend to my social life.

[@brutalusgaming8809]

Immediately goes and plays Empires of the Undergrowth.

[@Misto_deVito6009]

AY MY MAN!

[@myrmepropagandist]

Ants making happy little stridulations as they cut leaves they like (and the happy sounds attracting more ants) makes me think of the little noises some kids like to make when they use scissors. "chu chu chu chu chu" happy cutting sounds!

[@brunor7931]

I love observing and casually studying ants since my late childhood. And the fact that my favorite science channel made a video about leafcutter ants made me gasp and click in it so fast! Thanks for yet again another brilliant video and superb research and narration. Long live science researchers

[@profwaldone]

That swear is compleetly valid. Farming animals are nuts

[@benkelly1325]

I love ants

[@bjarke7886]

Me 2

[@titaniumfire3957]

me 3

[@OvertakeGT]

Leafcutter Ants and Leafcutter bees should team up!

[@ukmapper9997]

What you mention at 24:10 is actually the key area of Biology I am interested in as well! It's why I love crows and parrots so much. I am doing some research regarding fungi actually, to examine whether they may have a potential for some forms of intelligence, due to how mycelial structures resemble brains and communicate with electrical impulses. Although obviously it would be of a very different nature to animal intelligence.

[@Netbase2000]

What happens if 2 Colonys meet each other?

[@jamesd5366]

I loved this video. Change nothing about how yall write the scripts. Also, thanks for a video about ants. They sure are fascinating.

[@rickymohtasin3672]

This could be an RTS game.

[@Theoricamente]

Love the ant videos! Would love to see some more facts about different kinds of ants 🐜🐜🐜

[@hrodvitnir7524]

Imagine if leaf cutter ants or ants in general were human sized? That would be EPIC!! THE POSSIBILITIES!!

[@Antymatters]

woooohooooo :D got 2 colonies of these and am huge fans :D cant wait to learn some stuff about em

[@ratatouille2129]

“They’re fucking farmers” oh my god that’s insane

[@MrHotBagel]

Did these farmers give permission? 😢

[@280SE]

That appears to have been edited out already :(

[@nicholaslogan6840]

I remember back in the nineties we were afraid of being ruled by giant bugs. These guys have balanced defense, infrastructure, environmentalism, agriculture and communal integrity. Can we get a leafcutter ant to run a country sometime if they're ever not busy?

[@paddyola1]

amazing content as usual, great communicator x

[@musstakrakish]

Love this channel so much!

[@joegarza49]

Thank you for making another interesting animal video.

[@darriusdias]

This video series should be sponsored by "Empire of Ants" 🐜

[@jansenart0]

SimAnt 2 is long overdue. Unfortunately Maxis was digested by EA >:c

[@Misto_deVito6009]

You can play Empires Of The Undergrowth

[@jansenart0]

@@Misto_deVito6009 Not even close.

[@adrianmorrison4678]

Can you please do a video about jaguars being the killer of monster reptiles, leopard seals as the most deadly of a surprisingly fierce group of marine predators, and why the most common rats are perhaps the ultimate survivors?

[@realscience]

Those are all cool ideas!

[@neilok17847]

Amazing video. More reasons ants are the coolest animal!

[@Misto_deVito6009]

My favorite type of ants. Farming before farming!

[@AleM0623]

Love this video! ❤ Fascinating. 👏👏👏

[@Cpneuma]

WOOO I LOVE REAL SCIENCE VIDS

[@SMJSmoK]

So these ants have have working agriculture, roads, specialized workforce, communication networks, rooms with heating and a damn air conditioning. We should take notes.

[@SantaClause-m9h]

go check out some ant hill castings. using molten aluminium instead of concrete. some really cool structure hiding just under our feet.

[@TobiasErmon]

I subscribed because I love animals too (video ideas the insane biology of mongooses)

[@karolmongiello2725]

This was incredible, commenting for exposure

[@hiatusxhiatus]

Recommendation: the thumbnails should've been an ant holding a leaf

[@cyphatechie5459]

"but scientists think" 14:20 it's funny how you use that word ignoring the fact that you are a scientist yourself...i mean this is one of the best science channels on this platform so no one deserves a "scientist" title more than you do...

[@Gift-fh4qw]

15:08 Are you telling me that Aunt Moses is so fat that she leaves a cleared trail behind her on the forest floor.

[@MaikelRonnau]

Please make a video about insect antennae.

[@bofillot]

It reminds me so much of the enemy in the book Ender's Game.

[@mina9e]

1 million kids... this is ridiculous hahahahhaha (affectionate)

[@takoitsme4058]

WOOOO LEAF CUTTERS my favorite ants

[@lmzaadi]

My old ass tv doesn’t support nebula or Magellan but when I have to replace it I get both yay

[@darkavenger95UK]

Loved video, Giant African Land Snails pleeeeaaase!

[@TobeyFairre7861]

You telling me an ant cut this leaf?

[@derekfrost8991]

Why do ants never get sick? It's because of the anty bodies.. 😂

[@rdhrtj3943]

We need more ant videos

[@tmoosy]

I thought you were gonna say the strigulation turns their mandibles into a multi-tool

[@TheGrimmReader]

8:05 Ok this is just sounding like a mobile game I would spend way too much on in micro-transactions 😅

[@TheTrueTrue]

Your voice is the main Motive that the videos are hated.. the voice is - 10.000

[@ThaTyphon]

Surprised the video wasn't sponsored by the new game Empire of the Ants that came out recently

[@realscience]

I would have loved that. I need a connection there!

[@Korvus_Korax]

Nature is amazing but also creepy and gross AF 🤣. Another great video mate 👍

[@LiezAllLiez]

Thumbnail: "Jaws as strong as steel" Me: crushes an ant with two fingers, jaws and the rest of its body Sure are...

[@patherek7914]

These ants are also fascinating from a pest control standpoint when they start attacking flowering plants in suburban neighborhoods.

[@crazywileycoyote]

Currently taking a class in pest control and never thought about that I guess they don't come to Canada

[@patherek7914]

@crazywileycoyote It's too cold for too long and it doesn't produce the type of vegetation or a good environment for the fungus they like. They LOVE the southeastern US along the gulf.

[@SadNathan]

I laugh when I hear the Beep of farming

[@lukas4235]

i wanted to know whether they can cut through skin and picked a soldier. It hat no troubles at all cutting through my thumb multiple times, as I didn´t get it off immediately.

[@MongoosePreservationSociety]

Amazing

[@dreadpiratesnake6152]

the formics

[@Lol_Pig]

Why is it we call variations of basically the same ant _different species_ yet we don't do the same for humans? *Serious question, no malicious intent behind my asking

[@Ooooooooeheu]

They stole my joint 1 time i let them have it

[@saiynoq6745]

6:40 my peeps come on ! I know I’m not a scientist but the males deciding how the year to year colonies gather build defend or search for food is wild ! Based on how each male performs that’s nuts and wild ! They possibly found a way to have a cast system not based on culture or any social construct. Fun fun

[@Apodeipnon]

Guys we need to protect nature

[@Speedy_stage902]

Love y’all 🤪

[@Pumkin_King-o5x]

9:22 they cut throung skin!!!

[@denisl2760]

Just a few points: "concrete" has rocks in it, probably not the best material to pour into tiny passages. What was used is probably cement. And carbon dioxide is not "toxic", the reason it is dangerous is because it displaces oxygen.

[@deltaeins1580]

Nah, CO2 is toxic and its not just the air/oxygen displacement

[@N4STYNATE]

Why use the derogatory term of "baby daddy"? Weird

[@hannahbrown2728]

So people like you unwittingly boost engagement. Also considering the males die after mating, its actually pretty accurate.

[@flexrumblecrunch9140]

I dont believe that "baby daddy" is strictly derogatory. It just means a baby's biological dad and is usually used in contexts where the parents arent in a committed relationship, much like the queen and her mates.

[@N4STYNATE]

@flexrumblecrunch9140 in my experience it tends to be degrading. Just thought it was strange

[@TCD.Animals]

Imagine if they were as big as a dog, what would happen? Answer me guys! 👇👇

[@raeperonneau4941]

🤯

[@L17_8]

Jesus loves you so much ❤️ Please REPENT now and turn to Him and receive Salvation before it is too late. Time is almost up.

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodin1559]

Solomon, whom the Bible calls the wisest man to ever live praised the ant. Proverbs 6:6-11 "Go to the ant, O lazy person; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O lazy one? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and lacking like an armed invasion."

[@DarkGodSeti]

So the poor are poor, because they are lazy? Sounds logical, but it's not very realistic...

[@I_suck-_-so_what]

Who gives a shiite about the bible? Isaiah 45 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Every kid with cancer. Every murder. Every r*pe. Every non-human animal in agony. Everything is part of God's plan. The Lord works in delirious ways. The tribal war god of Abraham, YHWH, is an egotistical, immoral maniac obsessed with foreskins.

[@SuperFusioX]

I love this. No Make up. No drama. Just Science. Subscribed!

[@WhatSmellsLikeToast]

Today I learned my last girlfriend was a queen 👑

[@vishipsherrah]

PROFANITY!!!!!

[@TobiasErmon]

Interesting 🤔🆒

[@claudeJUNIOR]

SAÚVAS !!! #HueHueBR

[@DixonCyderBusch]

The Queen's promiscuous behavior reminds me of some of my ex-girlfriends 🤦

[@jansenart0]

They didn't discover farming before us. We discovered farming after them. (Or rather, vegetative species manipulated them before other vegetative species manipulated us.)

[@jonasdominguezrodriguez1143]

So good as normal ❤

[@von_nobody]

Ant farm fungus or fungus is contorting ants?

[@nis3764]

nice vid! first

[@realsalu634]

Ants are probably some of the most inteligent beings around, dare i say on the level of whales

[@GraveUypo]

lol no they're not. they're like pre-programmed drones. they can do a job, and that's it. unless you consider a whole colony as a single being, then ants are kinda like cells.

[@longcastle4863]

The music turns some away from watching this. Where the absence of music deters no one. Apply some scientific thinking to that.

[@4GibMe]

Love the Potty Mouth. Love the Personal appearances. Both give the channel a personality. How scientific is that?

[@Maya-ev4mn]

You're cute

[@GraveUypo]

yeah of course i've seen them. just exterminated a bunch of their colonies in my law last week.

[@enervarex6701]

first!

[@loof700]

ye

[@RoeK89]

Wh 40k is ants!

[@a.randomjack6661]

Insanity is in the eye of the beholder How about you open a dictionary and find different adjectives? Insanity is really not appealing

[@emptytent]

You start too many of your sentences with "And".

[@TobiasErmon]

Interesting 🤔🆒