Wood Ants | The Empires of the Undergrowth

In this ant documentary, we are far from home...up in North America! Taking a brief look into the lives of the highly sophisticated, Wood Ants (Formica spp.). Also known as Mound Ants, Thatching Ants, and Field Ants. Featuring original footage filmed within...
- Alberta & British Columbia, Canada
- Montana, United States
- Victoria, Australia
MY WEBSITE / SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Linktree - linktr.ee/jord...
Watch More Ant Documentaries Here - • Ant Documentaries
VIDEO CREDITS
Written, narrated, filmed and edited by Jordan Dean.
MUSIC CREDITS
Kevin MacLeod - (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons...

[@JordanDeanFilms]

Hey guys, hope this video was worth the wait! I’m now making videos full time so expect more regular content from now on :D

[@harsukhmansingh4972]

Ants Australia yes I have been waiting for this moment so long

[@jakk8218]

Ants Australia congrats dude!

[@harsukhmansingh4972]

Could your next episode be a part 2 to tubs and tubes

[@prokopcingalek1177]

Ants Australia love your videos dude

[@liamoconnor1087]

Ants Australia I have been waiting sense your last video!!!

[@danic4748]

I live in Canada and formica are usually considered as pests, but for us, and enthusiasts, its a study paradise! A lot of those ants were formica ulkei, found in Alberta Canada! Great video once again Jordan!

[@JordanDeanFilms]

Thanks Daniel! Yep, they were literally everywhere I went! I've been meaning to identify all my findings. I'm pretty hopeless with North American ants though, well, anything outside of Australia really :)

[@danic4748]

Ants Australia if you'd like, send me a photo of each ant through Instagram @dan_cantin and ill ID them for you.

[@mr.lugnut44]

I live in alberta... :DDDDD WOOD ANTS YEY!! my fav ants live here!!!! btw does anyone know do red wood ants live here? aka formica rufa?

[@tlgx884]

@@mr.lugnut44 they live in Europe :)

[@teampingu]

This is such high quality! Usually studios take months and a whole team to make videos like this. Looking forward to the next one!

[@bigchunk1]

So true. The quality is amazing. Very impressed with this channel.

[@assumjongkey1383]

@@bigchunk1 but he takes decades to realise viodeo

[@bigchunk1]

@@assumjongkey1383 You might want to consider not paying him this quarter.

[@assumjongkey1383]

@@bigchunk1 what??

[@danielsmith9476]

@@assumjongkey1383 wtf does that mean english please?

[@nordicants6232]

OMG! I love this!! These guys are like VERY native to my area, they are everywhere. Still your content and documentation about them surprises me. You are amazing dude.

[@JordanDeanFilms]

That's great to hear! Thanks :)

[@peacepeople10]

One question I live in a very cold area. Could I still have big headed ants as pets? They're not native to my area.

[@heatherhaze3680]

worlds end...you should really just have native to the area species really. its kind of ant keeping edicate.

[@animaniacs538]

@Magnus no it's ALWAYS (it's not always illegal...)

[@ilijamitrevski1210]

Formica is definetly my favourite genus.

[@rohithvkrishnan5269]

Ilija Mitrevski have u looked into harpegnathos or ponera or even carabera.if u r interested see some videos on dorylus driver ants cus they r a cool sp

[@ilijamitrevski1210]

The Indian Antkeeper Yeah, I just like Formica because it's simple, everywhere yet does cool thing. It's also one of my first queens.

[@rohithvkrishnan5269]

Ilija Mitrevski oh I see that is nice.if u r interested checkout my channel ;)

[@animaniacs538]

@@rohithvkrishnan5269 your a fucking asshole for that. Why'd you promote your own channel tf

[@riot_baby2296]

My favorite genus is acromyrmex a leaf cutter genus

[@ant.invasion]

Great video as always Jordan, can't wait for the local Meat Ant video!

[@JordanDeanFilms]

Thanks Eli! Can't wait to make it :)

[@stanleylittlejohn2265]

Ant Invasion OMG YOUR HERE ITS LIKE AN AMAZING ANT GATHERING

[@Au_Aquatica]

Ants Australia can't wait for a Myrmecia pilosula update! Good job Jordan

[@queenofants2385]

@@stanleylittlejohn2265 Yes It Is :D 🐜 🇦🇺 🐜👽 🐜 🇺🇸

[@Miminyte500]

The sound volume seems very very low.

[@JordanDeanFilms]

A few people have brought this to my attention now. Must be the new audio software I was using. Still getting my head around it. Always looking to improve so thanks for the feedback!

[@CHRONICjon716]

This channel deserves way more subscribers

[@JordanDeanFilms]

Glad you think so :)

[@earlofdoncaster5018]

These videos are better than 90% of nature shows on TV.

[@stanleylittlejohn2265]

THIS VIDEO was great in quality please keep up the good work I can’t believe how good the image is you could go on tv and be fine it’s so good to see how your confidence has grown!

[@antlad8393]

Extremely well shot, high quality clips, without a doubt intriguing to all, and very informative. Once again you have exceeded my expectations Jordan, I am obsessed with these documentaries you create, I do hope you continue these documentaries, life can be hard and when someone you enjoy watching who posts after a while, it just.. Really feels good sometimes, and sorta rises your contentment at times. A moment to relax and enjoy watching what you consider content. Well done!

[@joshuagallagher9948]

Hi today I just caught 3 green head ants and a sugar ant queens. I live in Australia NSW

[@АнубисЕгипетский-о9ш]

4:28 I just love reaction of this ant! It's like "What, mate?? Oi, got a problem?!!"

[@capnseli]

These are my first ants I've found queens for, and so my first colony attempt! Thanks for the video, it was very helpful!

[@joshualiang3485]

i remember when you had 200 subcribers and you said you couldnt wait to keep camponotus consibrinis. look at your channel now, amazing watching it grow just like a colony. getting my first myrmecia next week KEEN

[@Au_Aquatica]

Great video Jordan. Keep up the great work

[@StephenGillie]

Growing up in the forests of WA State, these huge ant piles were all over the place. Up to 3 feet tall, covered in pine needles, and just begging to be toppled with a stick. They used to steam like peat moss in the cooler spring and fall, inside the hill was indeed quite warm.

[@Vincent89297]

Huge production value as usual. Very well done.

[@antark1171]

Great video, as always Jordan. I'll continue to look forward to your future videos! 👍🏻

[@dragon-oo8vc]

Great vid I've been waiting for a video for ages

[@AntsManitoba]

I love this documentary Jordan good job

[@tardis2802]

Finally another video! I waited so long for this!

[@kentuckykeeping4734]

Welcome back man!

[@dirkvanzyl7285]

Very helpful video! Keep up the good work!

[@mylye200]

Really liked this episode guys, worth the wait! Keep it up you guys!

[@cpeter4321]

These guys are in my backyard. I never knew how interesting they are until this video. Thank you.

[@bigchunk1]

I live in Chicago and these ants are everywhere. These ants are what I think of when I see an ant.

[@latoyaglvr]

Those ladybug carcasses were delightfully gruesome.

[@alexandreb.4943]

Great vid keep up the good work

[@igris6128]

Amazing video with amazing quality

[@matemagyarosi5694]

New video!!! You are the best ;)

[@davidtimothy5804]

You post FINALLY, im so happy, if only i dont missed three day... lol Btw really cool vid hope your channel grows masive

[@timmyrnbhead1897]

errm is that a dead drone part stuck on that queens behind haha..also great content!

[@noahcallins4595]

Awesome video! I currently have a parasitic queen with workers. And I have the same Formica queens shown in the video

[@ronaldgrove3283]

🙂 Wood Ants were always my favorite local Eastern American Ants. Being about the same size of Carpenter Ants and colored red and black I always considered them red ants ? And through being rarer to find than Carpenter Ants finding t hem is always a great joy. Because each individual Wood Ant always possess such great personalities. Yes and unlike most Ants they can spray their poison !

[@fernandogomezperez6144]

As always an awesome video! Question: what type of equipment do you use to shoot your videos and audio? They look amazing, I want to make videos with that quality, could you give me your advice?

[@frankieliga]

Empires of the Undergrowth is a ant sim by Slug Disco from the UK. Interestingly enough it features the Wood Ant (a genetically adaptive species called Formica eruptus)

[@watchingwatchingwatching]

ereptor*

[@super760]

Thank you for making it on my birthday

[@jaketheperson8495]

Ants are truly fascinating creatures!

[@Jaybiiird]

KEEP UP THE *insane* WORK!!! XD

[@Jaybiiird]

ps congrats on 40k subs

[@antstogether2746]

Next: Harvester Ants? would be sick!

[@godzillapark1030]

Pls post more videos It helps make my day/week/month

[@kefl298]

well narated jordon well done,new subscriber now

[@JordanDeanFilms]

Thanks :)

[@alpha77productions22]

5:57 That looks kinda cute.

[@lovedirt9028]

Looking forward for the shop to open to buy some habitats

[@finn0772]

Oh wow I caught 5 Formica queens I am so exited!!!

[@henrybok2916]

Thank you for the upload I've been waiting for this for a while. Quick question how are your bull ants their my favourite on this channel.

[@jeremystaszewski350]

Great video I'm in northern New Mexico nd I believe I have a few formia queens

[@teawrecks1243]

Queen ants killing each other would make for an interesting TV series, sort of like 'Game of Thrones' but with bugs 😂

[@PkmnRayhak]

Incredible video!! I hope one day you cover Pogonomyrmex :).

[@lukenock4496]

love it!

[@d3str0i3r]

that sap thing is interesting, i'm surprised there's not a species of carpenter ant that does that

[@billybob9961]

They are Beautiful I think they're the same ones I saw were hiking in Utah? Are quite big and absolutely gorgeous and color

[@queenofants2385]

Very Cute And Funny Species.

[@LordDarthHarry]

When ants are better and more disciplined at basic disease prevention than some people.

[@NorthernANTs]

I have wood ants all over by my house, I am praying I am able to find I queen to start a colony for my channel. For this is one of may favorite ants. Had a colony back in the early 2000s but I did not know how to house them, if only, I knew then what I know now. Till not to much but learning 😉 lol I will have to supply them with resin. The queen you talked about that took over another colony, I am luck to have gotten one late summer, and I am able to show them on my channel.

[@fieldfrost4220]

Hmm is it possible to make a trapjaw or weaver ant video? I love those 2 species. Ps. Great vid!!

[@derykian6029]

Hi Jordan, I was just curious, what camera do you use to film your ants? (I am putting together a presentation about my Tetramorium Sp. E colony, and I need good footage!) Thanks!

[@heatherhaze3680]

Ive always wondered what kind of ants were all over my yard, now i know, and inadvertently it turns out that they are the slavers that ive heard about and was interested in learning more about! So thanks man! :)

[@TheDsRequiem]

More people should "shoot" animals like you did in the end of the video instead of what they usually do. Good on you man

[@myrmepropagandist]

Thanks!

[@antsandmoreaustralia]

0:46 is that a fusca species because I’ve seen them down here in NSW

[@mrilovetheants]

Love this video. You captured a great variety of the most diverse genus in the US and Canada. My one and only gripe is that you called male ants drones. This is wrong. Male honeybees are called drones, this is because they fly freely from one hive to the next and are allowed in to feed, spend the night, and be taken care of by worker honeybees no matter what hive they were originally born in. They essentially drone their way from hive to hive and really only serve the purpose of mating with queen honeybees on the rare occasions that they fly from the nest to mate. Actually a fair amount of the traffic coming and going from a honeybee hive are drone bees. This is similar in a way to how Army Ants reproduce. Like honeybees hives/colonies only spread by division. There are no single founding queens. When Army Ants are ready to divide the resident queen will produce several new queens that hang out in the nest waiting for males to come and mate with them. In army ants mating takes place within the nest because I don't think Army Ant queens are born with wing. In honeybees though, new queen bees are born with wings so they have to fly out and mate with several males within a few days of being born. In both cases it's beneficial that the males mating with these queens are not her immediate brothers so it's beneficial to have some genetic diversity among the males within the nest or hive.

[@chinaants4972]

MrILoveTheAnts so ur telling us that male ants are called king ants?

[@wackyantman5893]

Fed some random wild ants earlier, wasn’t much of a swarm. Checked on them tonight and bam there’s atleast 200 ants on the jelly I fed them

[@tylersparks6665]

Love your videos bro. Informative and isn't all about making money off the hobby!

[@persomnus]

There's some of these ants in my backyard, and they won't leave my zucchini flowers alone >:( There's an abandoned ant hill too, and my cat loves rolling on the mound, lmao. We call her a dirt gremlin

[@stanleylittlejohn2265]

OMG SO INTERESTING!!!!!

[@Aj.1905]

When can you come to the UK? We have lots of lasius species here as well as myrmica rubra

[@nutticustv2868]

Hey thanks Jordan!!!:) I have a formica ant with 5 workers, but its workers do not venture out very much... What should I do?

[@godzillapark1030]

Do trap-jaw ants,leafcutter ants,army ants,bullet ants,meat ants,etc. next

[@yungboyhq5203]

Where do you think would be the best place to look for wood ants when they have there nuptial flights

[@MrParanoyak]

Hi there, where is that beachy lake along the mountain range at 3:30 ?

[@JordanDeanFilms]

Hi, that's Magog Lake, at the foot of Mount Assiniboine.

[@ju6284]

Love it keep up the good work

[@darvinde]

Which camera are u using?

[@BritishAnts]

What camera do you use?

[@JordanDeanFilms]

I use an entry level DSLR with a macro lens. More info here - instagram.com/p/BV3huiVF38D/?taken-by=antsaustralia

[@kidsinthehills945]

Keep the videos going

[@bazzmond]

great doco

[@michuberlaufts2041]

Great video! I have a Formica sanguinea:)

[@TheQuietTyper]

My family has a island that I used to call red ant island because of all the aggressive red ants on it. Since getting into ant keeping, I've discovered that they are Formica. The main reason they are so aggressive is that we're constantly getting close to their nests (for the record, there are nests over the entire island). So I know exactly how painful their bites can be. They are also so aggressive that even a single individual away from the nest will charge at a threat.

[@rolfboesjes4216]

I caught a formica fusca queen last week, im juat hoping she's fertilized

[@antonionegrea3554]

I went to this vid thinking it was actually gameplay of the game called "Empires of the undergrowth" 😂

[@henri131]

awesome vide0

[@melogam2054]

Pls post more videos

[@assassins3627]

Can you do a video on meat ants since they are native to australia and an amazing specie

[@coolalex4098]

Cool Ants

[@chriscorona1813]

i dont keep ants has pets but i like to see this kind of videos, usually i see them invading my house, eating some bug, rests of food or just passing by, but today they were acting weird.... i saw a bunch of them dead in the bathroom (im sure i didnt spray them with poison) at the beggining there was only a few but after some hours it became a bunch, also others were just siting there moving his head like rubbing it on the floor what do you guys think they are acting like that?

[@nibapenus8110]

Dude i wild love to get one of your ytong nests but the shipping is just too expensive for me you know

[@hamishmack6710]

Finally yess

[@jakob.o4979]

Love this video

[@magmers6389]

i thought you were gonna play empires of the undergrowth XD

[@coltonkarpes9634]

me to LOL

[@lattydesire]

oh my gosh!!!!!

[@sillyalligator]

Oh yes wood ants

[@daniellet1667]

Do carpenter ants pls they are amazing

[@ellenmasters5759]

finnaly

[@jacquese.t.9113]

These ants have so many positive attributes. Why is SLAVERS the first thing you mention in the title describing them? I have issue with that considering it's the last thing you mention about them in the video. Wood Ants are the ORIGINAL SLAVERS as apposed to whom or what? Good video other wise. Thank you.

[@leviroch]

Ok, ima send you a couple of myrmecia desertorum queens, and when you make a vid about them PLEASE use the shin godzilla theme music. . .

[@hans3352]

Where in North America have you been?

[@lukeh2379]

Where you in Yellowstone?

[@sharkystudios3777]

New sub

[@owo4470]

Resin is how ants wash their hands,body Resin is also their soap. and saviour