Ants

The ultimate social insects

Richard Jones (Author)

Ants

The ultimate social insects

Richard Jones (Author)

Hardback ~~$45.00~~ $40.50 Ebook (Epub & Mobi) $40.50 Ebook (PDF) $40.50

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Description

A clear introduction for the novice naturalist to all things ant.

Ants are everywhere, though they are small, secretive, easily overlooked and usually misunderstood. But these seemingly puny insects have a superpower that makes them amongst the most important organisms on the planet – what they lack in size and individual strength, they more than make up for in sheer numbers and sophisticated, coordinated activity.

In this book, impassioned entomologist Richard Jones reveals the bizarre and sometimes poorly studied behaviours of ants. Their aggregation in large (often mind-bogglingly huge) nests is a complex mix of genetics, chemistry, geography and higher social interaction. Their forage trails, usually to aphid colonies but occasionally into the larder, are maintained by a wondrous alchemy of molecular scents and markers. Their social colony structure confused natural philosophers of old and still taxes the modern biologist today. And flying ant days regularly make national news as airborne swarms interfere with international tennis matches. Despite being tiny, ants are special because they and their complex colonies are amenable to scientific interrogation beyond that offered by most other insect groups.

Starting with a straightforward look at ant body structure, Jones then explores the ant species found in the British Isles and parts of nearby mainland Europe, their foraging, nesting, navigating and battle instincts, how ants interact with the landscape, their evolution, and their place in our understanding of how life on earth works.

Clear, concise and thoroughly entertaining, this is an extraordinary insight into all things ant.

Preface

1 What's so special about ants?
2 What is an ant?
3 The ants of Britain and Ireland
4 Evolution of ants
5 Being an everyday ant
6 The rise of the colony
7 Human interactions with ants
8 Ant interactions with other species
9 Ants in the landscape
10 How to study ants

Appendix: Identification key
Glossary
References
Illustration credits
Acknowledgements
Index

Product details

Published	Jun 14 2022
Format	Hardback
Edition	1st
Extent	368
ISBN	9781472964861
Imprint	Bloomsbury Wildlife
Illustrations	330 colour photos and b/w illustrations
Dimensions	10 x 7 inches
Series	British Wildlife Collection
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Author

Richard Jones

Richard Jones is a nationally acclaimed entomologi…

I didn't think I wanted to know much about ants but I was drawn into this book by the tales that the author tells and the way he tells them. It's a treat.

Mark Avery
Readable, popular and amusing.

Adrian Knowles, British Wildlife
Entomologist and author Richard Jones brings his expertise and accessible writing to the latest book in the British Wildlife Collection series. This time the focus is on the “easily overlooked and usually misunderstood” ants, and why they are so extraordinary.

BBC Wildlife
Full of the passion, depth and excitement that only a genuine ant expert and enthusiast could convey … Jones has poured a lot of his life and a good dollop of soul into this book.

Seirian Sumner, Royal Entomological Society
There is something here to suit all exponents of natural history, from the curious beginner to the seasoned entomologist. The author easily captures the attention of the most casual ant-watcher.

Adrian Knowles, British Wildlife
The latest from the excellent Bloomsbury Wildlife Collection.

Stephen Moss