Overview

This sweeping portrait of the world's uncontested six-legged conquerors will open your eyes to the secret societies thriving right beneath your feet--and shift your perspective on humanity. The closer you get to ants, the more human they look. Ants build megacities, tend gardens, wage wars, and farm livestock. Ants have flourished since the age of the dinosaurs. There are one million ants for every one of us. Engineered by nature to fulfill their particular roles, ants flawlessly perform a complex symphony of tasks to sustain their colony--seemingly without a conductor--from fearsome army ants, who stage twelve-hour hunting raids where they devour thousands, to gentle leafcutters cooperatively gardening in their peaceful underground kingdoms. Acclaimed biologist Susanne Foitzik has traveled the globe to study these master architects of Earth. Joined by journalist Olaf Fritsche, Foitzik invites readers deep into her world in both the field and the lab. Exploring these insects' tiny yet incredible lives will inspire new respect for ants as a global superpower. Publisher's note: Planet of the Ants was previously published in hardcover as Empire of Ants.

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9781615198504

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Reviews

Beautifully illustrated with color photographs, the book offers a view into parallels between seemingly out-of-this-world ant societies and our own, including cities, an intense work ethic, division of labor, intragroup cooperation combined with genocidal outgroup warfare, even a kind of to-the-death national loyalty. The authors' scientific rigor is matched by their joy in their subjects. --The Wall Street Journal [Planet of the Ants] will give you a newfound appreciation for the pint-size civilizations thriving right in your backyard. --Discover Magazine Highly informative, beautifully illustrated, and easy-to-read . . . [this] new book explains all you ever wanted to know about these tiny conquerors. --Psychology Today [Planet of the Ants] adopts a playful tone, cycling through factoids about the more than 16,000 ant species on Earth with evident glee. --Smithsonian Are we the sole rulers of this world? This wonderful book brings our tiny co-rulers alive via an engaging description of ants' cities, hard work, warfare, royalty, diversity, and ecological impact. These insects may be quite different from us, but their societies are eerily similar. --Frans de Waal, author of Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves and Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? If you ever wanted to travel to an exotic planet filled with strange life forms--you've arrived. Every page of [Planet of the Ants] brims with astonishing stories and facts that could never have been invented by a human mind. Ants live with us in an almost parallel universe of small-scale powers that exert major influence on how living things conduct their lives on Earth. The range of sizes, abilities, societies, quirks, and ecological roles that ants have evolved is mind-boggling. And so is this absolutely amazing, beautifully written book. --Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace and Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel Thrilling, compellingly readable, and paradigm-shattering. A gateway to a strange but strangely familiar society--a complex international community, ruled by stern, exotic, resonant, and repercussive stories. --Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast: Adventures Across the Species Divide [Planet of the Ants] provides a great overview of ant life cycles, communication, and colony formation, sprinkled through with really fascinating depictions of some of the weirder species . . . If bugs are your thing (and yes, I know that ants are not technically bugs), it's worth checking out. --ArsTechnica Filled with stories of [the authors'] discoveries, travels, and the problems scientists face when studying such tiny creatures, the book is also filled with colorful photographs of these cute but fierce insects. --Treehugger Both expert and entertaining, [Planet of the Ants] will leave you in no doubt that these wonderfully strange little animals are among the most impressive of all our fellow creatures. --David Barrie, author of Supernavigators: Exploring the Wonders of How Animals Find Their Way This is a charming tribute to the 'little creatures that run the world.' A very personal selection of the many wonders discovered in the world of ants that introduces readers to their fascinating lives. --Bert Hoelldobler, University Professor and Regents' Professor at Arizona State University, behavioral biologist, and coauthor of The Superorganism and Pulitzer Prize-winning The Ants Susanne Foitzik and Olaf Fritsche have you enter a whole new universe worthy of a science fiction novel, yet it exists right at your feet. --Mark W. Moffett, author of The Human Swarm and Adventures Among Ants This highly entertaining book makes it clear that Mother Nature has been having a wildly fun time molding these social insects into an abundance of behavioral and physical expression. --Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows and Super Fly

A Main Selection of the Library Science Book Club Shortlisted for the 2022 Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize Beautifully illustrated with color photographs, the book offers a view into parallels between seemingly out-of-this-world ant societies and our own, including cities, an intense work ethic, division of labor, intragroup cooperation combined with genocidal outgroup warfare, even a kind of to-the-death national loyalty. The authors' scientific rigor is matched by their joy in their subjects. --The Wall Street Journal Empire of Ants will give you a newfound appreciation for the pint-size civilizations thriving right in your backyard. --Discover Magazine Highly informative, beautifully illustrated, and easy-to-read . . . [this] new book explains all you ever wanted to know about these tiny conquerors. --Psychology Today Empire of Ants adopts a playful tone, cycling through factoids about the more than 16,000 ant species on Earth with evident glee. --Smithsonian Are we the sole rulers of this world? This wonderful book brings our tiny co-rulers alive via an engaging description of ants' cities, hard work, warfare, royalty, diversity, and ecological impact. These insects may be quite different from us, but their societies are eerily similar. --Frans de Waal, author of Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves and Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? If you ever wanted to travel to an exotic planet filled with strange life forms--you've arrived. Every page of Empire of Ants brims with astonishing stories and facts that could never have been invented by a human mind. Ants live with us in an almost parallel universe of small-scale powers that exert major influence on how living things conduct their lives on Earth. The range of sizes, abilities, societies, quirks, and ecological roles that ants have evolved is mind-boggling. And so is this absolutely amazing, beautifully written book. --Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace and Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel Thrilling, compellingly readable, and paradigm-shattering. A gateway to a strange but strangely familiar society--a complex international community, ruled by stern, exotic, resonant, and repercussive stories. --Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast: Adventures Across the Species Divide Empire of Ants provides a great overview of ant life cycles, communication, and colony formation, sprinkled through with really fascinating depictions of some of the weirder species . . . If bugs are your thing (and yes, I know that ants are not technically bugs), it's worth checking out. --ArsTechnica Filled with stories of [the authors'] discoveries, travels, and the problems scientists face when studying such tiny creatures, the book is also filled with colorful photographs of these cute but fierce insects. --Treehugger Both expert and entertaining, Empire of the Ants will leave you in no doubt that these wonderfully strange little animals are among the most impressive of all our fellow creatures. --David Barrie, author of Supernavigators: Exploring the Wonders of How Animals Find Their Way This is a charming tribute to the 'little creatures that run the world.' A very personal selection of the many wonders discovered in the world of ants that introduces readers to their fascinating lives. --Bert Hoelldobler, University Professor and Regents' Professor at Arizona State University, behavioral biologist, and coauthor of The Superorganism and Pulitzer Prize-winning The Ants Susanne Foitzik and Olaf Fritsche have you enter a whole new universe worthy of a science fiction novel, yet it exists right at your feet. --Mark W. Moffett, author of The Human Swarm and Adventures Among Ants This highly entertaining book makes it clear that Mother Nature has been having a wildly fun time molding these social insects into an abundance of behavioral and physical expression. --Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows and Super Fly

Beautifully illustrated with color photographs, the book offers a view into parallels between seemingly out-of-this-world ant societies and our own, including cities, an intense work ethic, division of labor, intragroup cooperation combined with genocidal outgroup warfare, even a kind of to-the-death national loyalty. The authors' scientific rigor is matched by their joy in their subjects. --The Wall Street Journal Will give you a newfound appreciation for the pint-size civilizations thriving right in your backyard. --Discover magazine Highly informative, beautifully illustrated, and easy-to-read . . . [this] new book explains all you ever wanted to know about these tiny conquerors. --Psychology Today Adopts a playful tone, cycling through factoids about the more than 16,000 ant species on Earth with evident glee. --Smithsonian magazine Are we the sole rulers of this world? This wonderful book brings our tiny co-rulers alive via an engaging description of ants' cities, hard work, warfare, royalty, diversity, and ecological impact. These insects may be quite different from us, but their societies are eerily similar. --Frans de Waal, author of Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves and Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? If you ever wanted to travel to an exotic planet filled with strange life forms--you've arrived. Every page of Empire of Ants brims with astonishing stories and facts that could never have been invented by a human mind. Ants live with us in an almost parallel universe of small-scale powers that exert major influence on how living things conduct their lives on Earth. The range of sizes, abilities, societies, quirks, and ecological roles that ants have evolved is mind-boggling. And so is this absolutely amazing, beautifully written book. --Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace and Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel Thrilling, compellingly readable, and paradigm-shattering. A gateway to a strange but strangely familiar society--a complex international community, ruled by stern, exotic, resonant, and repercussive stories. --Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast: Adventures Across the Species Divide Provides a great overview of ant life cycles, communication, and colony formation, sprinkled through with really fascinating depictions of some of the weirder species. . . . If bugs are your thing (and yes, I know that ants are not technically bugs), it's worth checking out. --ArsTechnica Filled with stories of [the authors'] discoveries, travels, and the problems scientists face when studying such tiny creatures, the book is also filled with colorful photographs of these cute but fierce insects. --Treehugger Both expert and entertaining, Empire of the Ants will leave you in no doubt that these wonderfully strange little animals are among the most impressive of all our fellow creatures. --David Barrie, author of Supernavigators: Exploring the Wonders of How Animals Find Their Way This is a charming tribute to the 'little creatures that run the world.' A very personal selection of the many wonders discovered in the world of ants that introduces readers to their fascinating lives. --Bert Hoelldobler, university professor and Regents' Professor at Arizona State University, behavioral biologist, and coauthor of The Superorganism and Pulitzer Prize-winning The Ants Susanne Foitzik and Olaf Fritsche have you enter a whole new universe worthy of a science fiction novel, yet it exists right at your feet. --Mark W. Moffett, author of The Human Swarm and Adventures Among Ants This highly entertaining book makes it clear that Mother Nature has been having a wildly fun time molding these social insects into an abundance of behavioral and physical expression. --Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows and Super Fly

"Are we the sole rulers of this world? This wonderful book brings our tiny co-rulers alive via an engaging description of ants' cities, hard work, warfare, royalty, diversity, and ecological impact. These insects may be quite different from us, but their societies are eerily similar.--Frans de Waal, author of Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves and Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? Filled with stories of [the authors'] discoveries, travels, and the problems scientists face when studying such tiny creatures, the book is also filled with colorful photographs of these cute but fierce insects.-- ""Treehugger"" Highly informative, beautifully illustrated, and easy-to-read . . . [this] new book explains all you ever wanted to know about these tiny conquerors.-- ""Psychology Today"" Susanne Foitzik and Olaf Fritsche have you enter a whole new universe worthy of a science fiction novel, yet it exists right at your feet.--Mark W. Moffett, author of The Human Swarm and Adventures Among Ants This highly entertaining book makes it clear that Mother Nature has been having a wildly fun time molding these social insects into an abundance of behavioral and physical expression.--Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows and Super Fly This is a charming tribute to the 'little creatures that run the world.' A very personal selection of the many wonders discovered in the world of ants that introduces readers to their fascinating lives.--Bert H�lldobler, University Professor and Regents' Professor at Arizona State University, behavioral biologist, and coauthor of The Superorganism and Pulitzer Prize-w Thrilling, compellingly readable, and paradigm-shattering. A gateway to a strange but strangely familiar society--a complex international community, ruled by stern, exotic, resonant, and repercussive stories.--Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast: Adventures Across the Species Divide Empire of Ants adopts a playful tone, cycling through factoids about the more than 16,000 ant species on Earth with evident glee.-- ""Smithsonian"" Empire of Ants provides a great overview of ant life cycles, communication, and colony formation, sprinkled through with really fascinating depictions of some of the weirder species . . . If bugs are your thing (and yes, I know that ants are not technically bugs), it's worth checking out.-- ""ArsTechnica"" Empire of Ants will give you a newfound appreciation for the pint-size civilizations thriving right in your backyard.-- ""Discover Magazine"" A Main Selection of the Library Science Book Club Shortlisted for the 2022 Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize ""Beautifully illustrated with color photographs, the book offers a view into parallels between seemingly out-of-this-world ant societies and our own, including cities, an intense work ethic, division of labor, intragroup cooperation combined with genocidal outgroup warfare, even a kind of to-the-death national loyalty. The authors' scientific rigor is matched by their joy in their subjects.-- ""The Wall Street Journal"" Both expert and entertaining, Empire of the Ants will leave you in no doubt that these wonderfully strange little animals are among the most impressive of all our fellow creatures.--David Barrie, author of Supernavigators: Exploring the Wonders of How Animals Find Their Way If you ever wanted to travel to an exotic planet filled with strange life forms--you've arrived. Every page of Empire of Ants brims with astonishing stories and facts that could never have been invented by a human mind. Ants live with us in an almost parallel universe of small-scale powers that exert major influence on how living things conduct their lives on Earth. The range of sizes, abilities, societies, quirks, and ecological roles that ants have evolved is mind-boggling. And so is this absolutely amazing, beautifully written book.--Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace and Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel"

Author Information

Susanne Foitzik is an evolutionary biologist, behavioral scientist, and international authority on ants. After completing her PhD in ant evolution and behavior and conducting postdoctoral work in the US, she became a professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. She now holds a chair at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, where she studies the behaviors of slaveholding ants and different work roles in insect colonies. Her findings have been published in more than 100 scientific papers. Olaf Fritsche is a science journalist and biophysicist with a PhD in biology. He was previously an editor at the German-language edition of Scientific American, is the author and coauthor of many books, and has been published in a wide variety of newspapers and magazines. He lives in Germany.

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