Caption: Harvester ants carry food several times their size., Credit: Cathryn Hoyt
Image by: Cathryn Hoyt 
Harvester ants carry food several times their size. 

Harvester Ants

Series: Nature Notes
From: Marfa Public Radio
Length: 00:04:30

You’ve seen their sprawling, barren mounds, like little moonscapes in your field or lawn. But what lies beneath harvester ants’ conspicuous mounds? Read the full description.

Harvester-ant-small_small

You’ve seen their sprawling, barren mounds, like little moonscapes in your field or lawn. You’ve probably seen them lugging seeds back to their home. You may have even felt the burn of their sting. We know them as harvester ants—so named because they harvest seeds. But what do they do with these seeds? And why do they build their conspicuous mounds?

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Piece Description

You’ve seen their sprawling, barren mounds, like little moonscapes in your field or lawn. You’ve probably seen them lugging seeds back to their home. You may have even felt the burn of their sting. We know them as harvester ants—so named because they harvest seeds. But what do they do with these seeds? And why do they build their conspicuous mounds?

Additional Credits

Host Dallas Baxter. Written by Anne Marie Hilscher.

Related Website

http://www.marfapublicradio.org/nature-notes/harvester-ants/