The Bullet Ant

By mold recovery 10/26/2009 , , 3 comments
We've been watching Discovery Channel's "Planet Earth." The report on fungus and the rainforest is particularly mesmerizing. The piece focuses on a lone bullet ant whose body is infiltrated with a parasitic fungus. His body and mind become so disoriented he clings to a tree.

His fellow workers find him, carry him away, and leave him to die. They remove him to avoid the deadly spores that will soon burst from his body. Spores that can wipe out the entire colony.

We stand to learn a great deal from the ants of the rainforest.

First, the bullet ant has a sting which is ranked as the most painful of all wasp, bee, or ant stings. Fungus, in the right setting, can debilitate the most powerful of creatures. Humans are no exception.

The narrator uses the word "disoriented" to describe the ant's irrational actions. The ant climbs up the tree and clings to it. Fungal exposure causes brain fog in humans. Disoriented is a good word.

In my mind, the key lesson lies in the fact that the ants know and understand the fungal threat. They take action to protect the colony.

The Bible tells us to learn from the ant. "Consider her ways and be wise." (Proverbs 6:6)

3 comments :

  1. Wendy HutchinsOctober 26, 2009 at 11:54 PM

    Wow, fascinating! I love to watch programs like that on PBS! They are usually jaw-dropping displays of God's enormous creativity! "The ants know about the fungal threat." How incredible!

    If you ever see a PBS documentary listed called "Kings of Camouflage," watch it if you can; it is about cuttlefish, amazing fish that can change colors and patterns and even flash lights from an electrical layer in their skin. I can't see how ANYONE could think that they just evolved! What an awesome God we have!

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  2. Tom JarrettOctober 27, 2009 at 1:06 PM

    Andrea, glad to hear your thoughts on the awesome Planet Earth series! It took my appreciation of God's creation to a whole new level because it shows places and animals in such amazing settings that the average person will simply never be able to witness.

    Planet Earth is also a favorite of my kids and truly appeals to people of all generations. Of the 11 episodes, that Jungles episode you are referring to is one of my favorites and I agree that it offers many insights about dealing with toxins. Besides the amazing bullet ant, I also was fascinated by the way the elephants go to the watering hole and dig deep to eat the clay that helps them de-tox after eating the leaves in the jungle.

    A little extra info on this series for those interested in it…Planet Earth is an epic production 4 years in the making and commissioned by the BBC. It originally aired in 2006 in the UK and then Discovery Channel ran a U.S. version in 2007. Both versions are absolutely incredible and now available on DVD with the main difference being that the BBC version is narrated by David Attenborough and the Discovery version is narrated by Sigourney Weaver. If you're a real Planet Earth junkie, you'll want to do a little research before you buy your set to make sure you get the one you want. I've watched both many times and either way you can't go wrong. The Discovery version is available on their website and the BBC version can be found at Amazon and all over the internet. Here's some discussion about the differences if you care that much: http://www.amazon.com/version-different-Discovery-Channel-version/forum/FxHGEFTIWGVM3N/Tx2B26GRCRZAW51/1/ref=cm_cd_seo_tp_redir?_encoding=UTF8&s=dvd&asin=B000MR9D5E&store=dvd

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  3. melindaOctober 28, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    WOW...this is amazing and something to really think about. I need to watch more tv. I hope you are all doing well. We have given your blog address to a family here in OHio that have all become ill with stuff the doctors can't decide. So thank you for all your links and information and your honesty and vulnerability. blessings in Christ, melinda

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