Master of the Killer Ants

Posted by Alex in Animal, Travel & Places on November 21, 2007 at 2:42 am


The Mofu people of northern Cameroon, Africa, have developed a unique process of defending themselves and their crops against termites and other pests: by calling on killer ants they called the jaglavak (Dorylus) for help!

The Mofu who sees his compound invaded by termites and ants calls on the jaglavak for help. Dorylus colonies are not easy to find. After identifying the nest or colony of jaglavak on the move, the Mofu removes from the colony several hundred to a thousand, or even more, Dorylus soldiers. [...]

The Mofu put the jaglavak on the ground within an ocher circle from which extends a path, also traced in ocher, that leads toward the area of the most badly infested house. The Mofu admit that they do not see the jaglavak operate, but they claim that two or three weeks later, the harmful insects have disappeared, and the jaglavak as well, for they do not remain in the compound …

Link (Illustration: Henri-Pierre Aberlenc) - via Ursi’s Blog



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COMMENT

6 comments to "Master of the Killer Ants"

  1. Mr Pudifoot
    November 21st, 2007 at 6:45 am

    Maybe that’s where the saying “That’s one bad Mofu” comes from. :-/

  2. aware
    November 21st, 2007 at 9:00 am

    hey, this was on pbs last night.

  3. Alex
    November 21st, 2007 at 9:58 am

    The link is to PBS, aware!

  4. Ant
    November 21st, 2007 at 11:45 am

    Argh! I missed this ant documentary! I am sad now.

  5. pridesax09
    November 21st, 2007 at 2:58 pm

    omg, i saw this on PBS last night too!

  6. Chris
    November 22nd, 2007 at 11:02 pm

    Did you pay before watching PBS? OO


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