There seems to be a lot of concern expressed in the news reporting lately regarding the apparently sudden surge in encounters with the Asian Needle Ant. Known as Brachyponera chinensis to the “scientific” community, this little guy is being touted as dangerous not only to humans but to our environment.
In this post, we are going to take a much deeper look at the NEEDLE ANT and all the commotion about him to see what we can uncover. I believe the real purpose behind all the attention given to this topic in the News is way beyond this somewhat innocuous tiny creature. There is more to the story.
The Chinese word for ant is
蚂蚁 mǎ yǐ
LINK: ant 词源(Etymology) – 趣词词源[英文版]
- ant
[ant 词源字典] - ant: [OE] The word ant appears to carry the etymological sense ‘creature that cuts off or bites off’. Its Old English form, æmette, was derived from a hypothetical Germanic compound *aimaitjōn, formed from the prefix *ai– ‘off, away’ and the root *mait– ‘cut’ (modern German has the verb meissen ‘chisel, carve’): thus, ‘the biter’.
The Old English word later developed along two distinct strands: in one, it became emmet, which survived into the 20th century as a dialectal form; while in the other it progressed through amete and ampte to modern English ant. If the notion of ‘biting’ in the naming of the ant is restricted to the Germanic languages (German has ameise), the observation that it and its nest smell of urine has been brought into play far more widely.
The Indo-European root *meigh-, from which ultimately we get micturate ‘urinate’ [18], was also the source of several words for ‘ant’, including Greek múrmēx (origin of English myrmecology ‘study of ants’, and also perhaps of myrmidon [14] ‘faithful follower’, from the Myrmidons, a legendary Greek people who loyally followed their king Achilles in the Trojan war, and who were said originally to have been created from ants), Latin formīca (hence English formic acid [18], produced by ants, and formaldehyde [19]), and Danish myre.
It also produced Middle English mire ‘ant’, the underlying meaning of which was subsequently reinforced by the addition of piss to give pismire, which again survived dialectally into the 20th century.
[ant etymology, ant origin, 英语词源] - ant (n.)
- c. 1500, from Middle English ampte (late 14c.), from Old English æmette “ant,” from West Germanic *amaitjo (cognates: Old High German ameiza, German Ameise) from a compound of bases *ai- “off, away” + *mai- “cut,” from PIE *mai- “to cut” (cognates: maim). Thus the insect’s name is, etymologically, “the biter off.”
As þycke as ameten crepeþ in an amete hulle [chronicle of Robert of Gloucester, 1297]
Emmet survived into 20c. as an alternative form. White ant “termite” is from 1729. To have ants in one’s pants “be nervous and fidgety” is from 1934, made current by a popular song; antsy embodies the same notion.
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One stinging invasive ant, the Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis; fig. 1), is beginning to cause problems in North America after being relatively unnoticed for many years. The Asian needle ant’s native range includes China, Japan, and the Koreas. SOURCE
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Fire Ants
Photo courtesy of NC State
Fire Ants first appeared in Alabama in 1930; they are originally native to South America and likely arrived to the United States in the soil used in ships’ ballasts. They have since spread all throughout the south and are currently found in 71 of NC’s 100 counties. Red Fire Ants nest in the ground forming visible mounds in open areas; these ant colonies can have more than half a million insects. The “bite” of a fire ant sting is actually the injection of venom into the skin via their stingers. In addition to humans, fire ants will sting pets and livestock.
Why do fire ants appear to sting all at once?
Fire ants are very sensitive to vibrations, so they tend to sting when their target is moving. If someone jerks their leg when they feel the first fire ant sting, other fire ants will feel that movement and also “bite.” While fire ants use pheromones to elicit some behaviors, it is not likely that they communicate about stings with these communication chemicals.
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 Insect BitesUpdated: Oct 13, 2021
FIRE ANTS |
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Fire Ant Scenario
RESTORED 10/11/23 *What would you do if you went to work one day, and your job was gone? Taken over by AI? What if that was true for EVERYONE you know at the same time? No job and no possibility of EVER getting one. **What if you tried to use your debit card and it … Click Here to Read More
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Asian Needle Ants
Photo courtesy of NC State
The Asian Needle Ant likely arrived in the southeastern United States in 1935. They can be found in both open and forested area, and nest under wood debris (including mulch). Their colonies are much smaller than fire ants, ranging from dozens to thousands of ant; their colonies are flat and do not appear like traditional, mounded ant hills. While Asian Needle Ants are not aggressive like fire ants, if they are threatened, they will sting with venom equivalent to four bee stings. Surprisingly, more people are allergic to Asian Needle Ant venom than to honeybees and other bees. Unlike most ants, Asian Needle Ants cannot climb; if you capture a group of ants in a glass jar, Asian Needle Ants will not be able to climb the sides.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Asian Needle Ant, the Fire Ant, and all of NC’s additional ant species, researchers from NC State have developed a comprehensive website with photos, identification guides, and removal information.
I searched and could not find any records, charts, graphics or maps that demonstrated the growing number of reported sightings, bitings or cases of anaphylaxis at the hands or jaws of these creatures. I could not find where they were being monitored or recorded.
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Asian Needle Ants Are Spreading, and They Sting—Here’s How to Protect Yourself
If you’re allergic to bee stings, take extra care around this invasive ant that’s spreading in certain regions.
Credit: GeorgeK / Getty Images
Key Takeaways
- Asian needle ants are on the rise and can be dangerous, as their sting can trigger serious allergic reactions.
- Mostly found in eastern North American forests, they can move closer to homes during warmer months.
- A few simple steps can help you stay safe: Keep your yard tidy, avoid leaf piles, and know the signs of an allergic reaction.
Many households are familiar with the devastating property damage caused by carpenter ants or the painful persistence of red fire ants, but the lesser-known invasive Asian needle ant is here—and experts say its population is spreading.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, the ant’s venomous sting can cause severe allergic reactions, which in rare cases can be life-threatening. The relatively new species is making its way through the Southeast and Northeast U.S. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself.
What to Do to Protect Yourself
If you suspect you have an ant problem, whether the Asian needle ant species or another, there are some things you can do.
First, the USDA says to try to avoid the pest, which will likely be in wooded areas on the property, under logs, in leaves, under rocks, etc. In the summer months, Asian needle ants can get closer to home, like under a doormat or behind a planter. These ants have strong enough stingers to get through basic clothing, so layer up.
Also, familiarize yourself with the signs of anaphylaxis, and get medical help immediately if you experience any of the following after a sting:
Those with a known risk should carry epinephrine injections to administer before seeking help. Lastly, clean up any rotting wood or loose leaves from your property to give these ants fewer places to hide.
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To seke out one lyne in all hys bookes wer to go looke a nedle in a meadow. [Thomas More, c. 1530]
Meaning “piece of magnetized steel in a compass” is from late 14c. (on a dial or indicator from 1928); the surgical instrument so called from 1727; phonographic sense from 1902; sense of “leaf of a fir or pine tree” first attested 1797. Needledom “the world of sewing” is from 1847. Needle’s eye, figurative of a minute opening, often is a reference to Matthew xix.24.
Matthew 19:24
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
needle(v.)
So we see that NEEDLES have to do with provocation and trickery as well as weaving, spinning, and sewing. Really all manner of needlework. To learn more about the occult significance of these “arts”, check out the following articles:
The Goddesses Who Wove the World
The Myth of the Divine Weaving: The Fabric of Existence
Sep 27, 2024 · This exploration serves to highlight how the myth of divine weaving intersects with mythology, philosophy, and the very essence of existence.
Textiles in folklore – Wikipedia
Mention of textiles in folklore is ancient, and its lost mythic lore probably accompanied the early spread of this art. Textiles have also been associated in several cultures with spiders in mythology.Weaving begins with spinning. Until the spinning wheel was invented in the 14th century, all spinning was done with distaff and spindle. In English the “distaff
Magical Spinning | Folk magic | Witchcraft | Cailleachs …
Exploring spinning and weaving of wool in folk magic and its associated uses in folk magic, folk lore and witchcraft in scotland.
Spinning, And The Energy Of Handmade Items
In many cultures, spinning has a place on myth, worship and magic, and thus deserve a very special place on this Magical Craft blog of mine. Goddesses that spin wool or other fibres are not difficult to find on Pagan iconography, and spindles and/or spinning wheels often equal magical items in legends and lore – one of the examples everyone knows is the poisoned spinning wheel of the Sleeping Beauty story, which shows how much the magic of spinning has woven (no pun intended) itself into popular culture.
Spinning is the act of turning a fibre (animal or plant based) into a thread, by twirling it and later fixing the twirl using several methods. The hand spindle or the spinning wheel help with the twirling and storing of the thread in the bobbins, which is later formed into hanks that are washed, dyed, set to dry and then winded into balls to be used for knitting, weaving, braiding, etc.
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When I read the above statement I laughed. I am writing a post about the ASIAN NEEDLE ANT and when I went looking for information on Anaphylaxis I opened this article. NEEDLE ANT AND NEEDLE FREE TREATMENT. struck me as funny.
WHAT IS anaphylaxis?
- It’s a serious and potentially life-threatening (or type I) allergic reaction that can happen within minutes of exposure to an allergen.
- Millions of people have allergies to foods, insect stings or bites, medicines, or exercise. Sometimes the cause of the allergic reaction is unknown.
Actor portrayal.WHAT CAUSES anaphylaxis?
Not a complete list of all possible allergens. Allergies are individual to each person.
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?
Within minutes of exposure to an allergen, people can experience one or a combination of symptoms from different body areas, in varying degrees. If the patient has asthma, there is a higher risk for serious reaction.
Treat with epinephrine as soon as you notice any of the symptoms below. Don’t hesitate, as the severity of the reaction can quickly change.
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WHAT IS neffy?
FDA Approved: Yes (First approved August 9, 2024) source
neffy is a nasal spray used for emergency treatment of allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, in adults and children aged 4 years and older who weigh 33 lbs or greater.
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But, I wanted see what I could learn about the etymology of NEFFY. So, I went searching for the root. Which turned out to be ‘NE’ |
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nefarious(adj.) NEFFY
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Entries linking to epinephrine |
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information that I should know about neffy?
neffy contains epinephrine, a medicine used to treat allergic emergencies (anaphylaxis). Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening, can happen in minutes, and can be caused by stinging and biting insects, allergy injections, foods, medicines, exercise, or other unknown causes.
Always carry two neffy nasal sprays with you because you may not know when anaphylaxis may happen and because you may need a second dose of neffy if symptoms continue or come back. Each neffy contains a single dose of epinephrine. neffy is for use in the nose only.
Use neffy right away, as soon as you notice symptoms of an allergic reaction. If symptoms continue or get worse after the first dose of neffy, a second dose is needed. If needed, administer a second dose using a new neffy in the same nostril starting 5 minutes after the first dose. Get emergency medical help for further treatment of the allergic emergency (anaphylaxis), if needed after using neffy.
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Lately there have been a great number of articles related to the sudden upsurge in reports of NEEDLE ANTS. I have selected a few of those and pulled the most important bits to include here. If you want to read the entire articles just click on the Title Links.
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Invasive Asian Species Is Rapidly Taking Over the U.S. Southeast
There’s a growing problem in the southeastern United States. A species that was first discovered in the 1930s has been overlooked for decades, and is now running rampant, becoming a pest that’s hard to remove. The insect population is expanding both in forested areas and urban cities.
The Asian needle ant is a unique threat to U.S. soil due to the difficulty conservation efforts have controlling its population and the damage it poses to both the environment and people alike.
Their adaptability and widespread population are a thorn in the side of conservationists looking to try to uproot them from natural habitats. A proactive approach is needed when dealing with an invasive species like this when their growing population spells trouble for many different domestic ecosystems.
The Asian needle ant has a unique biology that means that people can recognize them if they know what traits to look out for. They are quite small, being around the size of a grain of rice, are black or dark brown in color, and have a stinger and orange-brown appendages.
While many native ants like to move in military-esque marching lines, the Asian needle ant moves close to the ground and in more sporadic groups. (some articles state they move around individually) They make their colonies underneath rocks, leaves, or logs to stay undetected. Their nests can have more than one queen, which aids in their rapid population growth.
This means that other animals in habitats can be affected, from birds to small mammals and other insects. The Asian needle ant is such an aggressive rival that they are even managing to push out other invasive species like the Argentine ant.
Impacts On Livestock
Asian needle ants may not have an impact on crops. However, their painful stings mean that conflict between their species and livestock isn’t impossible in intersection areas.
This has led farmers to be forced to move to areas away from their populations, costing a lot in the process. Furthermore, the ants could prey on beneficial insect species that improve crop yields by hunting disruptive pests that damage agriculture.
The Asian needle ant is a hardy rival to many other insects, and while domestic ants have a more specialized diet, these invasive ants eat anything from insects and termites to any scraps left behind by humans. This also means that they can be attracted by waste or food left out, bringing them into urban environments.
The ants’ population grows rapidly due to the presence of multiple queens and escape natural predators because they do not leave easy-to-track scent trials as many other domestic species do. When populations are controlled in urban areas, they can reappear from nearby forests and other undisturbed areas.
Many domestic ants have more obvious nests, while it can be much harder for pest control efforts to target and even find Asian needle ant colonies. This means that tried and true methods like bait and trapping that are specifically designed to deal with ants are ineffective against these invasive foragers.
Their nests in forests are extremely hard to uproot due to the sheer number of them and the difficulty in finding them. In many cases, once Asian needle ants are identified and pest control is called, they already have a strong foothold in the region.
An increase in Asian needle ants also costs residents more as they are forced to call pest control, which sometimes can’t even permanently rid them of the problem. The population is growing continuously, and if measures aren’t taken, these costs will only increase.
The Asian needle ant is a difficult invasive pest to deal with and collaborative efforts will be required to succeed in their dispatching them. Their population in regions needs to be confirmed early on so that nests can be destroyed before they establish a strong foothold.
This means that residents should be educated about what to look out for so that they can report sightings. If infestations can be reported early, then control efforts are much more effective.
The Asian needle ant is an adept insect species that will not disappear over time. They are thriving in U.S. borders and will have long term consequences for local habitats, human population health, and economies.
The landscape hasn’t been permanently damaged yet, so there is still a chance of successfully controlling their population before it’s too late. A proactive approach is urgently needed, or else trying to wait them out will only create disastrous circumstances.
Venomous Ant Population with Fatal Sting is Surging in the U.S., Scientists Warn
The Asian needle ant, an invasive species first spotted in the U.S. over 90 years ago, is surging through the Southeast U.S. and the Eastern seaboard
The Asian needle ant, an invasive species native to Asia, was first spotted in the U.S. over 90 years ago, but experts say its population has recently surged, posing a new threat to people, especially those with insect sting allergies. Its sting can trigger a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.
Though the Asian needle ant isn’t known to be aggressive, its stinger can pierce through clothing and reach skin. Swarming for the insects typically begins in the spring and continues through late summer (July and August); This is when the ants are most likely to appear in homes.
The Asian needle ant is highly adaptable. It can thrive in warm and cool climates, urban or rural areas, and is often found nesting under doormats, in potted plants, logs, firewood, or piles of leaves. They’re also drawn to hardwood and are known to feed on human garbage. Unlike most ants, they don’t form orderly trails — instead, they move alone and more sporadically.
“This behavioral versatility is allowing the Asian needle ant to move into forests, rural areas, and urban environments at the same time,” explained Dr. Mary Bates of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. “Because it can tolerate cooler temperatures, it could spread into a broad range of territory.”
It’s difficult to predict who will experience anaphylaxis from an Asian needle ant sting. Still, Suiter recommends that people who’ve reacted to other insect stings, like those from hornets or honeybees, speak with their doctors about carrying an EpiPen in defense against ant bites.
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Invasive Asian needle ants are surging in US Southeast — and their bite can trigger anaphylaxis
Asian needle ants found in the southeastern states of the U.S. have been spreading north and west for years, but experts now consider them to be a medically important pest and urge caution.
Asian needle ants are relatively small, dark and shiny. The tips of their legs and antennae are light orange. (Image credit: Clarence Holmes Wildlife via Alamy)
Asian needle ants (Brachyponera chinensis) went relatively unnoticed for many years following their introduction to the U.S. roughly a century ago, but entomologists recently documented their spread from a handful of southeastern states to New England and the Midwest. Asian needle ants are capable of invading many of North America’s temperate forests, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and with the spring swarming season about to start, there’s a chance that these ants could trigger medical emergencies up and down the country.
“We are now considering it a medically important pest,” Dan Suiter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia, told Fox Weather on April 29.
Suiter said he recently noticed an uptick in Asian needle ant stings. In 2024, he received three calls from people who suffered anaphylaxis as a result of Asian needle ant stings — a high number compared with previous years, he told Fox Weather.
Anaphylaxis is an acute, whole-body allergic reaction that happens very quickly in some people after exposure to certain medicines, foods or insect stings. Symptoms include a rapid and weak pulse, a skin rash, nausea and vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic. Anaphylaxis can be fatal, because it causes the immune system to release a flood of chemicals that constrict the airways, which prevents breathing. These chemicals also trigger a dangerous drop in blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiac arrest.
Ants are common pests, but “it gets a little bit more serious when the sting of an insect can be life-threatening to people who suffer anaphylaxis,” Suiter said. It is unclear how many people have died from Asian needle ant stings globally and in the U.S. since their introduction.
Asian needle ants are small, shiny, dark brown-to-black ants native to China, Japan and Korea. They were first discovered in the U.S. in 1932 following introduction via shipping — but by that point they were already present in at least three southeastern states, according to the USDA.
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Brachyponera chinensis – AntWiki
Apr 3, 2025
Buczkowski (2016) – The Asian needle ant, Brachyponera chinensis, is an invasive ant species introduced into the United States from Japan in the early 1930s (Smith 1934). Following the initial introduction, the species remained largely inconspicuous for several decades (McGown 2009). Recently, however, P. chinensis have become widespread in parts of the southeastern US and are now a common pest in urban and natural habitats (Guenard and Dunn 2010). In mature temperate forests, P. chinensis cause a strong decline in native ant abundance (Guenard and Dunn 2010) and disrupt ant-seed dispersal mutualisms by displacing native keystone ant species (Rodriguez-Cabal et al. 2012). In parts of North Carolina, USA, P. chinensis are displacing Linepithema humile by expanding their colonies early in the season (Spicer-Rice and Silverman 2013). Furthermore, recent predictive modeling demonstrates that climate change is going to significantly increase the global spread of P. chinensis by increasing the amount of habitat suitable to their invasion by 65 % worldwide (Bertelsmeier et al. 2013). The biology of P. chinensis is unique among invasive ants. First, while most invasive ants utilize carbohydrate-rich food sources consisting of floral nectar and hemipteran honeydew (Holway et al. 2002), P. chinensis is a predatory ant and a termite specialist (Bednar and Silverman 2011). There is no evidence that P. chinensis consumes nectar or hemipteran honeydew. Second, most invasive ants use mass recruitment via trail pheromones to collect food or toxic baits during management attempts. In contrast, no trail pheromones have been detected in P. chinensis. Instead, P. chinensis employs a unique yet relatively slow recruitment process called tandem carrying whereby foraging workers carry nestmates from the nest to the food source which is subsequently retrieved (Guenard and Silverman 2011). Finally, unlike colonies of many invasive ants which dominate urbanized and disturbed habitats, colonies of P. chinensis have the unique ability to invade habitats in undisturbed hardwood forests.
Brachyponera chinensis, the Asian needle ant, is a ponerine ant native to areas of Japan and Asia. (Interesting that China is not mentioned here) Previous known as the Pachycondyla chinensis, which was used in many scientific publications until 2014. The Asian needle ant was introduced to the United States[2][3] in the 1930s,[4] where it is considered an adventive and possibly invasive species. The Asian needle ant and the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) have been battling for territory in the U.S.[5] It is documented the Brachyponera chinensis have invaded North America primarily on east coast from Florida to Massachusetts.[1] The range of Asian needle ant extends westward to Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas[1].Sightings have been confirmed in Washington and Wisconsin, where outlier populations has been established.[1] This invasive species is of growing concern due to ecological impacts on biodiversity and medical risks to human health, via sting-induced anaphylaxis.
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Pachycondyla has been the focus of the greatest taxonomic confusion within Ponerinae, and was previously considered the senior synonym of numerous genera which are now considered distinct. Pachycondyla is in reality a small Neotropical genus (less than 20 described species) that is closely related to Dinoponera. Relatively little is known about its habits. IdentificationSchmidt and Shattuck (2014) – Pachycondyla workers are fairly generalized and lack any obvious autapomorphies, making their diagnosis more complicated than for most ponerine genera. They can most easily be identified by the following combination of characters: mandibles triangular, anterior clypeal margin without projecting teeth, metanotal groove at most present as a faint suture, propodeal spiracles slit-shaped, metapleural gland orifice with a posterior U-shaped cuticular lip, arolia not prominent, tarsal claws unarmed, petiole a thick block-like node, stridulitrum absent from pretergite of A4, and hypopygium with a row of stout spines on either side of the sting. Pachycondyla is most likely to be confused with Dinoponera, Neoponera, Ectomomyrmex, or Bothroponera, but Pachycondyla differs from Dinoponera in its smaller size, triangular mandibles, unarmed clypeal margin and tarsal claws, and block-like petiole; from Neoponera in its lack of a stridulitrum on the pretergite of A4 and by its hypopygial spines; from Ectomomyrmex in its complex metapleural gland orifice and hypopygial spines; and from Bothroponera in its hypopygial spines |
The Asian Needle Ant, Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Reported from Alabama [pdf]MacGown, J. A. Mississippi Entomological Museum, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762. jmacgown@entomology.msstate.edu Received: 16-VI-2009 Accepted: 25-VI-2009 The Asian needle ant, Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) is an introduced species thought to be native to Japan and China. This species was first reported in the United States [as Euponera solitaria (F. Smith)] from Decatur, Georgia; Wilmington, Newbern, Washington, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina; and Norfolk, Petersburg, and Richmond, Virginia (Smith 1934). Other isolated unpublished records are known from the mid 1900s from Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee (Guenard 2009). The single unpublished Alabama record is based on a queen collected in Decatur in 1939 (Guenard 2009, personal communication). However, since that time period this species has largely gone unreported until the early 21st century when large populations were found in North Carolina and South Carolina and researchers began receiving reports of this species stinging individuals.
Figure 1. Profile of Pachycondyla chinensis worker. Acknowledgments This article is approved for publication as Journal Article No. J-11607 of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Research was supported by State Project MIS-311080 and the USDA-ARS Areawide Management of Imported Fire Ant Project (Richard L. Brown, Principal Investigator). References Bolton, B. 1995. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Guenard, B. 2009. Pachycondyla chinensis, the Asian Needle Ant. Online posting (http://www4.ncsu.edu/~bsguenar/Pachycondyla%20chinensis%20page.html), accessed 26 March, 2009. Guenard, B. 2009. Personal communication. May 25, 2009. B. Guenard, Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC, 27695. phone (919) 515-4590; zeroben@gmail.com. Nelder, M. P., E. S. Paysen, P. A. Zungoli, and E. P. Benson. 2006. Emergence of the introduced ant Pachycondyla chinensis (Formicidae: Ponerinae) as a public health threat in the southeastern United States. J. Med. Entomol. 43: 1094-1098. Smith, M. R. 1934. Ponerine ants of the genus Euponera in the United States. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 27: 558-564. Zungoli, P., E. Benson, and E. S. Paysen. 2008. Clemson University Entomology Insect Information Series: Asian Needle Ant, Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery). Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. 2 pp. |
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Brachyponera chinensis
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Definition and Taxonomy of Ponera
Ponera is a genus of ants in the family Formicidae. This genus is a part of the subfamily Ponerinae and is known for its small to medium-sized, non-aggressive ants that primarily inhabit temperate and tropical regions. (hmm, could be they have been geoengineered to be adapatable to cold climates? You think?)
Etymology
The name “Ponera” is derived from the ancient Greek word πονηρός (ponēros), meaning“wicked” or “bad,” which is somewhat ironic given their relatively docile nature in the ant world.
Detailed Definition
Ponera ants are characterized by their simple, blunt-ended clypeus, small eyes, and the unique dental structure of their mandibles. They are often found in leaf litter and soil, where they forage for small invertebrates. The nesting behavior of Ponera ants is relatively unspecialized compared to some other ant genera.
Usage Notes
In the study of myrmecology (the study of ants), the genus Ponera is considered less behaviorally complex than other highly specialized genera like Atta or Pheidole. However, research on Ponera contributes valuable insights into the diversity and evolution of ants.
Interesting Facts
Ponera ants form small colonies, often with only a few dozen workers. This contrasts sharply with more populous ant species, thereby suggesting different survival strategies and social organization dynamics.
Quotations
“To look into the life of an ant, such as those in the genus Ponera, is to peel back the layers of a grand microcosm that thrives under our feet.”– E.O. Wilson
Usage Paragraph
In tropical regions, Ponera ants are frequently encountered in leaf litter, contributing to the complex decomposition processes integral to ecosystem health. Although less studied than other ants, Ponera species exhibit unique behaviors that provide nuance to scientific understanding of ant ecology and evolution.
Suggested Literature
- “The Ants” by Bert Hölldobler and E.O. Wilson
- “Journey to the Ants: A Story of Scientific Exploration” by Bert Hölldobler and E.O. Wilson
- “Ant Ecology” by Lori Lach, Catherine Parr, Kirsti Abbott
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WISDOM From THE WORD OF GOD!
1 John 3:12 “..And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil [ponera] and his brother’s righteous”. ESV.
Matthew 7:17
So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad [G4190 ponera] fruit.
1 John 3:12
We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil [G4190 ponera] one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds wereevil [G4190 ponera]and his brother’s righteous.
https://biblehub.com/greek/4190.htm Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
From a derivative of ponos [G4190]; hurtful, i.e. Evil (properly, in effect or influence
Romans 12:
9 Let love be genuine.Abhor what is evil [G4190 ponera]; hold fast to what is good.
In Rom 12:17 we find Paul saying: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” This anticipates the advice in V19 – Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
Thus, prepaying “evil for evil” appears to be some kind of revenge or vengeance which Christian are told NOT to do.
APPENDIX – extract from W E Vine, Expository Dictionary
1: πονηρός (Strong’s #4190 — Adjective — poneros — pon-ay-ros’ )
akin to ponos, “labor, toil,” denotes “evil that causes labor, pain, sorrow, malignant evil”(see No. 1); it is used (a) with the meaning bad, worthless, in the physical sense, Matthew 7:17,18; in the moral or ethical sense, “evil,” wicked; of persons, e.g., Matthew 7:11; Luke 6:45; Acts 17:5; 2 Thessalonians 3:2; 2 Timothy 3:13; of “evil” spirits, e.g., Matthew 12:45; Luke 7:21; Acts 19:12,13,15,16; of a generation, Matthew 12:39,45; 16:4; Luke 11:29; of things, e.g., Matthew 5:11; 6:23; 20:15; Mark 7:22; Luke 11:34; John 3:19; 7:7; Acts 18:14; Galatians 1:4; Colossians 1:21; 1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 3:12; 10:22; James 2:4; 4:16; 1 John 3:12; 2 John 1:11; 3 John 1:10; (b) with the meaning toilsome, painful, Ephesians 5:16; 6:13; Revelation 16:2 . Cp. poneria, “iniquity, wickedness.”
chinensis
Epithet: chinensis Meaning: Of or from China Derivation: Compound epithet made up of the country name “China” and the Latin suffix “-ensis,” meaning “of or from a place.”
CA Chinese person. 1741, Jacob Friedrich Reimmann, Historia Literaria Babyloniorum et Sinensium, p. 7.
“There is nothing in Greek or foreign philosophy that can be compared to the ancient philosophy of the Chinese.”
SOURCE
Ant robotics – Wikipedia
Ant robotics is a special case of swarm robotics. Swarm robots are simple (and therefore likely to be cost-effective) robots with limited sensing and computational capabilities. This makes it feasible to deploy teams of swarm robots and take advantage of the resulting fault tolerance and parallelism. Swarm robots cannot use conventional planning methods due to their limited sensing and computational capabilities. Thus, their behavior is often driven by local interactions. Ant robots are swarm robots that can communicate via markings, similar to ants that lay and follow pheromone trails. Some ant robots use long-lasting trails (either regular trails of a chemical substance[1] or smart trails of transceivers[2]). Others use short-lasting trails including heat[3] and alcohol.[4] Others even use virtual trails.[5]
Invention
In 1991, American electrical engineer James McLurkin was the first to conceptualize the idea of “robot ants” while working at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The robots consisted of sensors, infrared emitters, and communication systems capable of detecting objects in their path. McLurkin’s invention was through studying the behavior of real ants in ant colonies and keeping ant farms as a basis for his programming. Through this examination, he could better understand how insects structured their workloads in order to produce a viable and working prototype of robotic ants.[6]
Background
Researchers have developed ant robot hardware and software and demonstrated, both in simulation and on physical robots, that single ant robots or teams of ant robots solve robot-navigation tasks (such as path following and terrain coverage[1]) robustly and efficiently. For example, trails coordinate the ant robots via implicit communication and provide an alternative to probabilistic reasoning for solving the simultaneous localization and mapping problem.
Researchers have also developed a theoretical foundation for ant robotics, based on ideas from real-time heuristic search, stochastic analysis and graph theory.[7]
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Ant robots are swarm robots that can communicate via markings, similar to ants that lay and follow pheromone trails. They are part of a new development within the AI world called Swarm Intelligence, which allows them to work both autonomously and as a collective group. Some ant robots use long-lasting trails, while others use short-lasting trails including heat and alcohol. Others even use virtual trails. Wikipedia+1
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Microrobot swarms developed in South Korea achieve tasks like transporting objects and unclogging tubes using magnetic fields. Inspired by ants, these robots promise medical applications but need further autonomy advancements.
Scientists in South Korea have developed swarms of tiny magnetic robots that work together like ants to achieve Herculean feats, including traversing and picking up objects many times their size.
According to a study published on December 18 in the journal Device by Cell Press, the robots operate under a rotating magnetic field, enabling them to tackle complex challenges that would be difficult for single robots to manage. Potential applications include providing minimally invasive treatments for clogged arteries and precisely maneuvering biological samples in demanding environments.
High Adaptability and Performance in Tests
“The high adaptability of microrobot swarms to their surroundings and high autonomy level in swarm control were surprising,” says author Jeong Jae Wie of the Department of Organic and Nano Engineering at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea.
Wie and colleagues tested how well microrobot swarms with different assembly configurations performed at a variety of tasks. They found that swarms with high aspect ratio assembly could climb an obstacle five times higher than the body length of a single microrobot and hurl themselves, one by one, over an obstacle.
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Robots Traversing Lifting and Guiding Objects
Robots traversing lifting and guiding objects. Credit: Device/Yang and Won et al.
A large swarm of 1,000 microrobots with high packing density formed a raft that floated on water and wrapped itself around a pill that weighed 2,000 times more than each individual robot, enabling the swarm to transport the drug through the liquid.
On dry land, a robot swarm managed to transport cargo 350 times heavier than each individual, while another microrobot swarm was able to unclog tubes that resembled blocked blood vessels. Finally, through spinning and orbital dragging motions, Wie’s team developed a system through which robot swarms could guide the motions of small organisms.
Inspiration from Nature and Unique Design
Scientists have become increasingly interested in studying how swarms of robots can collectively achieve goals, inspired by the way ants band together to bridge a gap in a path or huddle in the shape of a raft to survive floods. Similarly, working together makes robots more resistant to failure—even if some members of the group fall short of the goal, the rest keep performing their programmed motions until enough of them eventually succeed.
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Guiding an ant and more. Credit: Device/Yang and Won et al.
“Previous swarm robotics research has focused on spherical robots, which come together through point-to-point contact,” says Wie. In this study, the researchers designed a swarm made up of cube-shaped microrobots, which share stronger magnetic attractions since larger surface areas—entire faces of each cube—can come into contact.
Each microrobot stands 600 micrometers tall and consists of an epoxy body embedded with particles of ferromagnetic neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB), which enables it to respond to magnetic fields and interact with other microrobots. By powering the robots with a magnetic field generated by rotating two connected magnets, the swarm can self-assemble. The researchers programmed the robots to come together in different configurations by varying the angle at which the robots were magnetized.
“We developed a cost-effective mass production method using onsite replica molding and magnetization, ensuring uniform geometry and magnetization profiles for consistent performance,” says Wie.
“While the study’s results are promising, the swarms will need higher levels of autonomy before they will be ready for real-world applications,” says Wie.
“The magnetic microrobot swarms require external magnetic control and lack the ability to autonomously navigate complex or confined spaces like real arteries,” he says. “Future research will focus on enhancing the autonomy level of the microrobot swarms, such as real-time feedback control of their motions and trajectories.”
Reference: “Magnetic swarm intelligence of mass-produced, programmable microrobot assemblies for versatile task execution” by Kijun Yang, Sukyoung Won, Jeong Eun Park, Jisoo Jeon and Jeong Jae Wie, 18 December 2024, Device.
DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2024.100626
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ANTS stands for Autonomous NanoTechnology Swarm
ANTS Fact
- The tetrahedral structure allows the walker to reconfigure itself into almost any shape, including snakes, arms, and satellite dishes.
- Unlike any other rover, the TET walker is designed to roll over.
- Designed to be self-healing, the TET walker will be able to discard and replace broken parts of its structure.
- Students and staff from more than 15 different colleges and universities have collaborate on ANTS projects.
- The single TET prototype has been all over the country and the globe! It has visited Canada and Antarctica, to name a few.
- TET is short for tetrahedron. The word tetrahedron is derived from the Greek word “tetraedros,” meaning four-faced.
- The TET walker prototype was tested at the McMurdo station, located in Antarctica. Facing a cold climate and rocky terrain, the TET walker proved that it could climb steep hills.
- Each TET is comprised of nodes and struts. The struts are the extendable legs of the tetrahedron and the nodes are the points where the struts meet.
WHAT’S NEW?Tet Warfighter
Tet Warfighter Movie Watch the brand new 2-minute movie of the Tet Warfighter in action
THINKING MACHINES A rover that changes shape to navigate rough terrain might use artificial intelligence. NY Times Article Excerpt…Steven Curtis designing a more ambitious rover. It does not have wheels. Instead, it looks like a shape-changing jungle gym, with trusses that lengthen and shorten. A simple prototype has been built. Computer animations illustrate its possibilities. Across flat terrain, it would roll like tumbleweed. Latest PresentationHow does the Tet Warfighter think? See Sandia National Laboratory talk on the Neural Basis Function Synthetic Neural System and Autonomy (October 2011) (unavailable) Jackson Laboratory’s Introduction to Tet expression systems eNews | April 1, 2015 AbstractNanotechnology, taken to its full three-dimensional potential, will place within the volume of a cube of sugar systems of vast complexity that far exceed the quantitative and qualitative capabilities of today’s largest supercomputers. Currently, the uncertainty and imprecision of the real world is tamed, rigidly fixed, by addressable, digital techniques and the careful orchestration of digital patterns within our machines.How to handle the interaction between our digitally implemented systems and continuous, disorganized nature is a key question. NASA is currently researching ways to move beyond autonomy implemented as brute- force control over every degree of freedom we can discover in our systems. Our systems operate in natural environments: inhumanly harsh, unfamiliar, unknown, and uncontrolled environments. Nature often surprises us, and so we turn to natural systems for clues about how to make massively complex systems more robust, reliable, and truly autonomous. Turning to Computer Science we draw on what we’ve learned about multi-agent systems running continuously and autonomously to understand information flow at the highest semantic levels. From physics we recall that the behaviors of systems may often be enumerated in a basis of fundamental behaviors. Non-linear physics contains clues about how to connect the physical world with the patterns of electric signals that make up the soft, information component of the systems. Genetics and control theory instruct how to handle long and short-term feedbacks throughout the system. Chemistry and biology provide important guiding principles governing system functions.
THE 12-TET
Here is the 12-Tet extending itself onto a rock. The 12-Tet Rover is one of ANTS’ biggest current projects. It is 12 tetrahedrons made of 26 struts (thin, extendable, metal rods) that will roam all over Mars’ complex terrain. Unlike the current wheeled rovers, it will be autonomous, so it will not require instruction from a whole team of scientists to complete a simple task. It will recognize obstacles and figure out how to get around them. It has a huge advantage over wheeled rovers because it does not require flat ground to operate properly. Rather than use wheels, it extends its struts and tumbles forward. It is a complicated type of movement to explain, and is best demonstrated in video on the right. Check it out! WHAT IS ANTS TECHNOLOGY?ANTS is an acronym for Autonomous Nano-Technology Swarm. ANTS technology builds on and advances recent trends in robotics, artificial intelligence, and materials processing to minimize costs and maximize effectiveness of space operations. WHAT IS A TETRAHEDRON?A tetrahedron is a pyramid with three sides and a base. The tetrahedral pyramid shape is a fundamentally stable structure and the simplest space-filling solid. HOW DOES A TETRAHEDRON ENGAGE IN LOCOMOTION?The short answer is by moving the center of mass in a direction just off to the side of a target in the direction of a tetrahedral side until the tetrahedron tips over in that direction, and then moving the center of mass in the direction of an adjacent tetrahedral side just off to the other side of the target until the tetrahedron tips over in the other direction. The center of mass is moved off-center by lengthening and tilting above ground struts in the direction of alternating adjacent sides, creating a flip/flop motion. |
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I am posting this article in an attempt to save you from making the biggest mistake ever possible. This “pandemic” or the next one…is a man made trap. It is their design to bring you to their designed end for you. Believe me, “modern science” which is just ancient OCCULTISM/WITCHCRAFT/DEMONISM has perfected their “magick” to … Click Here to Read More
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Obviously, the above video was fiction. However, it’s scenario is not out of the realm of possibilities. We have seen and even heard out of their own mouths that Scientists have no clue what their experiments will lead to, what they will create or initiate. THEY DON’T CARE. Even if they destroy the world…they don’t care. They ARE DRIVEN to pursue whatever hairbrained scheme pops into their head.
If you think they are looking to develop ways to heal the sick or make your life better. THINK AGAIN. They have been studying your brain and ANTS for a very long time. Studying, experimenting, inventing MACHINES on a microscopic level. You know what the ultimate goal of any Scientific endeavor is… CONTROL. If you are comfortable with them inserting robots into your body… may GOD save you.
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