Empire of the Desert Ants

Episode image for Empire of the Desert Ants

Episode 2 of 14, Natural World, 2011-2012

Duration: 1 hour

Natural World visits the Arizona desert, where a new honey ant queen wages an intense battle for survival as she attempts to build and defend her empire. Eliminating rivals with ruthless efficiency, sacrificing thousands in her quest for domination, murder, cannibalism, genocide - she will do anything to keep her crown.

Empire of the Ants is the epic story of one honey ant queen's dramatic rise to power - her brutal fall from grace.

  • Repletes

    Repletes

    This spooky image shows the largest honey ant workers that have taken on a very special role in the colony - repletes. Attached to the roof of the honey ant nest, their abdomens are full of nectar which is fed to other ants in times of drought or during long winters.

  • Inside the honey ant nest

    Inside the honey ant nest

    Different ants have different roles within a honey ant nest - there are repletes, workers, queens and larvae shown in this picture.

Credits

Series Editor
Steve Greenwood
Narrator
Andy Serkis
Producer
Ian Gray
Executive Producer
Tim Martin

Broadcasts

See all broadcasts of Empire of the Desert Ants (5)

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