The Guests of Ants

A fascinating examination of socially parasitic invaders, from butterflies to bacteria, that survive and thrive by exploiting the communication systems of ant colonies.Down below, on sidewalks, in fallen leaves, and across the forest floor, a covert invasion is taking place. Ant colonies, revered and studied for their complex collective behaviors, are being infiltrated by tiny organisms called myrmecophiles. Using incredibly sophisticated tactics, various species of butterflies, beetles, crickets, spiders, fungi, and bacteria insert themselves into ant colonies and decode the colonies' communication system. Once able to speak the language, these outsiders can masquerade as ants. Suddenly colony members can no longer distinguish friend from foe.Pulitzer Prize-winning author and biologist Bert Hölldobler and behavioral ecologist Christina L. Kwapich explore this remarkable phenomenon, showing how myrmecophiles manage their feat of code-breaking and go on to exploit colony resources....

The cheapest new copy of The Guests of Ants is £60.95 at Waterstones. Prices checked 9 Nov 2026

More by Bert Hölldobler

More by Bert Hölldobler