Sir: I loved Bruce’s column about the invasion of ants in the new premises (“Everybody, not everything, welcome,” in the July 5 Chatham Voice). Maybe he should have used them to help with moving, as an ant can lift 20 times its own body weight.
I used to be an ardent antologist and, unlike Bruce, I really love ants. If you see me on my knees in the backyard, I could be praying, weeding the garden or watching ants. They’re such interesting creatures.
Ants don’t have lungs. Oxygen enters through tiny holes all over the body and carbon dioxide leaves through the same holes. They don’t have ears either. They hear by feeling vibrations in the ground through their feet.
There are more than 12,000 species of ants all over the world. Although they’re frustrating when they invade The Chatham Voice premises, they do help the environment. They love cleaning up what we call “garbage” and are social insects, living in large colonies or groups. Depending on the species, ant colonies can consist of millions of ants.
I am concerned about somebody called Antman, of whom I had never heard. I read about him recently. He’s a creation of Marvel and is on the movies.
I hope he doesn’t invade our local paper – although I suppose that would make a good story for Bruce.
Stephen Beecroft
Chatham
