These Butt-Tickling Ants Are Endangered Butterfly Bodyguards | IN OUR NATURE

Check out "Out of Our Elements" on PBS Terra! • Is Biodegradable Plast...
“In Our Nature” is a NEW special limited series on It’s Okay To Be Smart!
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Seemingly distant ecosystems, even half a world apart, are connected in surprising ways. In this special limited series, Emily Graslie and Trace Dominguez join me as we explore the universal rules of life that tie together Earth’s living systems. In episode 4, we look at some surprising ways that species use teamwork in order to survive. Why is one African tree full of ants? Why are there birds nesting in girafe armpits? What surprising guard animal keeps an endangered butterfly larva from becoming wasp food? Welcome to the world of mutualisms and animal partnerships.
In Our Nature is a special miniseries produced by It’s Okay To Be Smart for PBS. Stay tuned for more episodes coming this summer, here on our KZbin channel!
Original Production Funding provided by: Anne Ray Foundation, a Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropy
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[@TraceDominguez]

The footage came out SO GREAT. Shout out to Kirra, Josh and all the awesome volunteers and conservator heroes who helped me capture the larvae story. WILD.

[@mmgdiscountmania4392]

Great job!!!!

[@kari7403]

That footage really was something awesome! Well done! Both to you, and those who helped you in creating such an amazing piece. I thoroughly enjoyed your work. Thank you.

[@m.j.golden4522]

So impressive. I've heard of the mission blue butterfly but it's an enigma in the big mystery. You made it a dream come true. Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man. - Stewart Udall

[@kateclark7250]

Three cheers!

[@earthlingsixbillionandsome406]

TRACE!! Haven't seen you in a video in years buddy. This is where you live now? Wow nice place, so many subscribers! You've given me so much knowledge over the years. Are you still only showering once in a while? Me too!! I don't know if I was when I heard you talk about it. Probably not. Anyway love you buddy!

[@nathangreenidge3446]

Not to mention that wolves are making bonds with ravens in the wild and the ravens are playing with the wolf pups

[@dgill441]

Waaaaa?? I need to see that!

[@nathangreenidge3446]

@@dgill441 yeah its not even just mutualism, they are forming emotional bonds lmao. Ravens have tamed the wolves 😂

[@saifabidalbloushi]

@@nathangreenidge3446 On god, ive seen you somehwere in a different comment section.

[@saifabidalbloushi]

@@nathangreenidge3446 and btw, REALLY?? Give me your source, article or a video, whatever it is. I need to know about this😂😂

[@tyrannosaur_rex]

@@saifabidalbloushi Wow, it really is and pretty interesting. But further studies need to be done. www.yellowstone.org/naturalist-notes-wolves-and-ravens/

[@jOrdyyflOres]

This one hit close to home… literally. My middle school had a garden club and one of our main goals for that year was to create an area dedicated for the preservation of the Mission Blue butterfly. So surreal to learn more about this from one of my favorite YT series!

[@TraceDominguez]

That's so great! I hope y'all were able to preserve some

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

It is okay to be smart and realize this 👉 💖 "The Connections (2021) [short documentary]" 💖

[@naturespecialist1489]

Ants:"Hey low fives!!!"

[@naturespecialist1489]

you guys can also raise and release the ants that protect the butterflies caterpillars

[@Darkflowerchyld718]

Y'all are straight up a treasure. Thank you for bringing back this style of nature documentary. Before the cable channels went to crap this kind of stuff was my favorite. Having it at my fingertips is priceless and means the world to myself and people like me 💙💚💙💚

[@SuperManning11]

Amen! This really is great stuff, and very hard to find anywhere else-especially quality programs such as this.

[@insert_a_handle_here]

Couldn't agree more, few bad jokes aside this is the best nature documentary going. Plus you learn more here than on TV shows 4 times as long.

[@dgill441]

@@insert_a_handle_here better than Attenborough???

[@insert_a_handle_here]

@@dgill441 Can't beat the legend himself, but I do prefer this. The narratives on cable shows is nowhere near as good.

[@dustman96]

This is garbage, not a good representation of nature.

[@TacticalAnt420]

Please make a “I love natural selection” shirt.

[@Bobomb1000]

make it yourself

[@dgill441]

Money to go to help the Mission Butterfly people ?

[@absolutezeroist11]

@@Bobomb1000 With natural selection

[@mAx-grassfed]

Why would anyone love "natural selection"? It is just gruesome. It means immense suffering and eventual death for the overwhelming majority of individuals.

[@Sweaper]

I hope you're being sarcastic

[@philosopherperv]

Joe just casually accepting cooperation within species. Something tells me that deserves a video of its own.

[@besmart]

You saying you want a video on the evolutionary benefit of altruism? I can do that!

[@philosopherperv]

@@besmart That sounds super interesting to me. When thinking about evolution I always have a difficult time conceptually separating the perspective of the genes from that of the organism. I suspect that altruism will bring that dichotomy front and center.

[@dgill441]

@@philosopherperv I can agree with that! If they aren’t conscious, then is it really even altruism?

[@fedeph665]

@@besmart Plis do that video.

[@jeminkukadiya13]

Please.

[@Case16710]

Emily: “Fun fact: they (ox peckers) will actually roost in the nether regions of giraffes too.” So it seems ox peckers have a mutualism with giraffe peckers then.

[@Daye2D410]

Lol good one!

[@assumjongkey1383]

Well what does that realy mean

[@Wingedshadowwolf]

🤣🤣🤣

[@blu_slurpees]

then they all proceeded to look away from the camera

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

It is okay to be smart and realize this 👉 💖 "The Connections (2021) [short documentary]" 💖

[@NewMessage]

All of my aunts teamed up stop my Dad from cutting down old rosebushes to put up a shed once, so I really feel the whistling acacia thing right now.

[@fionngalvin7338]

Aunts or ants?

[@kirbyknifeman2877]

@@fionngalvin7338 Aunts

[@theclipreaper]

"Why Some Species Team Up To Survive" To...survive?

[@cellonpot]

Some species aren’t “speciest”?

[@F_L_U_X]

Ikr...

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

It is okay to be smart and realize this 👉 💖 "The Connections (2021) [short documentary]" 💖

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

All species team up to survive, it is okay to be smart and realize this 👉 💖 "The Connections (2021) [short documentary]" 💖

[@iamrazor9831]

@@VeganSemihCyprus33 stop spamming goddamnit

[@erikgilson1687]

It should probably also be mentioned that ox peckers will totally go all vampiric on their hosts blood and drill wounds into their skin that can get infected, and there have been many cases where too may oxpeckers can outright kill a young or weakened giraffe by doing this

[@MonicaTheMad]

Flappy-flaps made me snort.

[@patricknowlan8821]

I was watching BBC Earth the other day and saw a video on monkeys leading other animals into a lion ambush. Apparently most monkeys usually act as scouts for other prey animals at watering holes but this group was luring them into lions so they can have permanent access to watering hole and they kind of just lived side-by-side the lions and as long as the lions were fed they never attack the monkeys. Is that a sign of high intelligence or mutualistic

[@mahendrakr7926]

Thanks team 'Smart'. Being an entomologist I always fascinated by such mutualistic associations..

[@tijlemans44]

The story about the mission blue is such a good example! All over the world there is examples of similar butterflies as well. In the Netherlands we have the Alcon Blue, which is also threatened with an even more complicated relationship with ants: only a few specific ant species take them into their nests, feed them for months until they hatch. I actually just finished my bachelor thesis on the Alcon Blue! So happy to see these species represented :)

[@greysenpai6749]

Will check the alcon blue

[@jaschabull2365]

Interesting! What motivates the ants to care for these caterpillars? Do they give off honeydew too?

[@meneeRubieko]

I love Trace, not afraid to admit it! Trace your videos on Dnews got me into the world of science and gave me an unsationable curiosity in the nature of life and the universe! Cant thank you enough

[@shaorandra]

This was so fascinating! The 3 of you (or the 3 teams together) make such interesting and capturing videos! Please make more in the series

[@Anidem9]

I live in California, and I've seen Mission Blue butterflies a few times in my life. They're so beautiful. It's a shame I hadn't realized how rare they are. I would have taken a picture or two. 😅

[@brunomendes4607]

funfact: hippos also kill more people per year than *most* people do!

[@SMN9a]

Yes

[@glomi__]

Truly unique and outstanding work everyone! (Huge shoutout to the editor too)

[@AllTheArtsy]

Amazing work, as always! Thank you for telling these stories!

[@gencel07]

I love this series, I hope you can come up in the future some more of these talking about other topics like society, psychology, human physiology, etc.

[@TheLucasdms]

Bad jokes, good science and awesome production. Man, I love this show.

[@wanahmadamsyarzafrie8080]

Bad jokes!?!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@sapphiregorgeus]

This was incredibly well produced. Amazing job, team!

[@voltor3956]

One of my favorite KZbin channels, never disappoints 💕 Great video, thank you, guys!

[@naveenraj2008eee]

Hi Joe This series is wonderfull.. Learning about mutualism or symbiotic relationship.. As trace said we are all connected... Can't wait to see next video about dung beetle.. Well done guys..

[@saifabidalbloushi]

Appreciate the quality of your videos!!

[@chuckyko9384]

Thank you for such an amazing documentaries.

[@beingdenise]

I had a great time watching this! Love the humor!

[@tunasci]

That talk about the past mistakes of conservationists reminded me of another subject your show could tackle in the future: how human action affects and helps create some wild biomas that are commonly seen as untouched by humans.

[@Sivah_Akash]

8:41, synchronized timing!

[@charlotteb6450]

this series is SO great thank you for making this!!

[@Morningblossom]

I really enjoy seeing the footage of different examples for want you are explaining

[@enriquemunoz8795]

This series has been great! I love seeing you three in the same video :)

[@heimbad]

I love this series! :) Thanks for the great work guys & gal!

[@manuperez3345]

Was so great to know about that, thanks for your work guys

[@Marlanson]

Absolutly love this series!

[@lily3323]

That was such a fun episode i love when you making videos together ❤️

[@hitman8764]

This series has been totally wonderful!!

[@christofferrasmussen9491]

This was incredible. Thank you, I look forward to the next one!

[@gantry289]

Another great show guy's! Love them so much.

[@ericwiemers3603]

Thanks for doing this series. Love this content.

[@leocelente]

That birdsferatu joke was perfect

[@nekoeko500]

They totally nailed it with this series.

[@BonnibelLecter]

The butterfly conservationist had some really great things to say, about understanding nature making the world less lonely and the caterpillars being the size of the mountain. I love those.

[@SylvesterAshcroft88]

Kirra and Trace were such a nice surprise in this episode, not seen Trace since those old Discovery episodes on KZbin which were awesome!

[@sohankumarsamal8493]

Awesome 👌 so clear and interesting, this video made me feel so full of life.

[@MADMadisson]

I loved this so much. Thanks for sharing this.

[@eliletts1680]

It is amazing that they where able to obtain rare footage of the caterpillars!

[@lilianfowler7988]

Thank you! You guys rock!

[@MysticVokkai]

I love that the three of them are making videos together

[@Greg_tha_rushin]

Incredible and humbling. Evolution is truly fascinating.

[@SimeonCogswell]

I love this series much, can you three please do this forever?

[@caroline6218]

I love this series! it really shows how everything from living to non-living, small to big and etc. Is conceited. I had no idea about the mission blues complex relationships with other species. Coyotes and badgers have been seen working together to hunt prairie dogs. The whole mycorrhiza network is a massive mutualistic relationship. And I have been seeing some interesting thangs about wolf and raven relationships. I've always been fascinate by biology and ecology. And this is a great documentary series, can't wait for the next episode.

[@neitan6891]

Love this series. I’d love a series like this that focuses on humans “the human males attract female mates by…” etc

[@justme...000]

I love thos series. please make more. Huge Respect to the creators.

[@m.j.golden4522]

We can never have enough of nature. We must be refreshed by the sight of inexhaustible vigor, vast and titanic features, the sea-coast with its wrecks, the wilderness with its living and its decaying trees, the thunder-cloud, and the rain which lasts three weeks and produces freshets. We need to witness our own limits transgressed, and some life pasturing freely where we never wander. Henry David Thoreau “I think that I shall never see A poem as lovely as a tree …”

[@kyle333halfevil]

I'm really enjoying this series.

[@ninjanerdstudent6937]

KZbin was recommending Derek’s latest video vs. Joe’s latest video. I will always chose biology over physics.

[@sanssoucilucci]

Ok we don’t care

[@dawas3610]

Derek’s ( Veritasium ) video was about algorithms and click bait, not physics. You should really watch both great videos.

[@MartijnCoppoolse]

_Por que no los dos ?_

[@theguywhoasked3435]

@@sanssoucilucci cope 🗿

[@marcocarag103]

The statement that a butterfly is "as big as a mountain" really gets to me. Beautiful video and stories of our world -- thank you.

[@johnnyrepine937]

Now we need myrmecophagous giraffes. Myrmecophagy has evolved separately among several species, belonging to separate taxa. Giraffes already have a tongue that is similarly adapted. It would just need a few more steps to bring it up to par with other anteaters.

[@book_hoarder_bose]

I'm loving this series

[@Kram1032]

this series continues to be amazing

[@MichaelFenley]

Good job. Very helpful.

[@hectorskmetija3015]

Flipping brilliant video, as per normal, cheers 👍

[@eldaiblol1492]

Fist thing I noticed: The new lego space shuttle. its an awesome build.

[@sumiaota3335]

So did the acacia ant relationship evolve independently more than once, since the bullhorn acacia has the same mutualistic role with its ant.?

[@GTAVictor9128]

Quite possible - it's called convergent evolution.

[@IAMMRONALD]

ants are small

[@oremooremo5075]

I guess the relationship between mutualism starts out one sided but not detrimental enough to be of any harm to the plant then over time the plant pushes back and a balance is struck between the two. Since the ants could get greedy or the plant could not be sweet enough.

[@TM-gu6bp]

Been living in the Bay all my life and never heard of the Mission Blue. Thanks!

[@juditszucs8439]

This episode was wonderful 😍

[@GurpreetSinghmadsfan]

Such a great video. My heart cries out thinking about what humans have done to nature, consciously or otherwise!!

[@anthonymorales842]

Excellent series it gives me so much more respect for those researchers who study the totality of specific ecosystems. Here on the northeast coastal USA the estuarine trophic complex has yet to be completely articulated especially with regards to teleost biomass. The most unfortunate condition of this region is the ubiquitous human presence. Imagine what has yet to be learned and what has been lost within the last 75 years.

[@shiranui498]

Amazing production

[@naveerakhan9622]

"We wanted to look at nature more holistically" - I'm absolutely loving every moment of this series! It's been so eye opening and beautiful. Hope it reaches the masses, these are some very important messages you guys are sending out 💗 Also, DYING at the nether region and Def Leppard bits 😂💀

[@VictorFursov]

Thank you for interesting story. Best entomological greetings!

[@hir3npatel]

Very cool and interesting, thanks!

[@jollygator9080]

What a great story! Also makes me think about the relationship of humans and domestic animals. We may eat them, but we give them shelter and means of secure reproduction. It might not be kind but it seems mutualistic.

[@eklectiktoni]

Pets are a better example of mutualism. We feed, shelter, and provide medical care for them. They provide companionship, protection (ex: dogs), pest control (ex: cats) or even transportation (ex: horses).

[@dennisdawson9896]

Yeah Trace! This butterfly thing is sad yet amazing.

[@eh9618]

I wonder..could this be how empathy develop in animal behaviour?

[@kari7403]

Good idea. I wonder. It would make sense, really.

[@maxinewest1326]

Nice landscape footage in these videos.

[@adrianneosa1490]

I love this series and it gives me great motivation to get my degree in environmental science to be a part of the fight to save our planet.

[@gg31hh]

when i watch this, this quote keep jumping to mind - "life finds a way" .. if the chain break, is it safe to say that the whole ecosystem break apart or opportunity for new ecosystem or chained to other available ecosystem nearby? ie. if the caterpillar extinct, doesn't the ant go find other host (plants or Insect or animal) that they can leech of to? adopt and evolve to say.

[@soham141]

Love the series...

[@TylerMatthewHarris]

I lol'd at "you mean like ... nasbiratu!? "

[@DearFermi]

I’m loving the new way he making videos keep it up

[@gregorydittrich1563]

I love the song choice at 19:23

[@lettuce1626]

The caterpillar endanger makes sense, I feel like even without humans, it wouldn’t last long because there are many land animals (unless the place that they live in doesnt have land animals) that can trample them

[@joop-Mous]

The way he laughed at 9:56 got me (:

[@Roach32]

Wasps really are always the villains

[@yassienabdillahi1688]

This series is great

[@rubag223]

This is great guys!

[@Jacob-Simonsen]

Without channels like this, KZbin would be WORTHLESS.

[@Yolwoocle]

I love this series!

[@xanelled6810]

What helps me to survive in this world Is my birb. She is so smol, so cute, so squishy. Impossible to live without.

[@Iris_and_or_George]

Ants in your plants was amazing! 10/10

[@krishnapande8941]

What a Grt Video. Thank you for your effort and keep working for more grt content 😍💯🤗🎉

[@MooneLightEntertainment]

0:11 *Lol! Why are crocs always smiling?!* 😁😁😁😁

[@GlenHunt]

We need an episode where the Snarky Globe and Joe switch roles.

[@GlenHunt]

Also more gross stuff. Gross stuff is cool.

[@zairazaira_]

i love this series

[@user-ty9wt6po4o]

That is a lot of work, really. Good job, seriously.

[@ThePygmalion_]

Seeing the nature playing its role, and the way this series approaching it, its blows my mind every time! love this series, and appreciate your work!

[@jaschabull2365]

Seems pretty nice to be that acacia, but just wait until the giraffes develop a mutualism with anteaters that can sit on their heads to reach the ants in the trees! >:D

[@elijahisconfused]

giraffes with anteater helmets is such an adorable thought