How Ants Learned to Control Fungus

66 million years ago an asteroid caused the extinction of the non avian dinosaurs along with many other types of plants and animals. Genetic data shows that it was at this time that the earliest known agriculture took place, conducted by the earliest agriculturists, the ants. These ants farm fungus in their colonies and some of them have even domesticated their fungus. So how have these creatures beaten humans to the game of something so complex by so many millions of years.

If I have used artwork that belongs to you but have neglected to credit it this will just be because I was unable to find one. If this has happened please contact me and I will add a credit. Some Art work has been altered for the purposes of bettering them for video format; these alterations were done independent from the artists who created the original work, so they are not responsible for any inaccuracies that could have occurred with the changes being made.

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[gomez_d]

Now make a video on how fungus learned to control ants

[zoltanperei]

When I was kid people said the dinos died out 65 million years ago. Now it already 66 million years. Time flies so fast.

[mellowboba]

Ant with fungus garden-
Behold my mastery of fungus.
Ant controlled by cordyceps-
bEhOLd mY MaSTErY oF fUnGUs.

[whoeveriamiam]

3:27 ant carrying a leaf with another ant on top

they're so strong that they can lift things when someone else is actively weighing it down

[starscream]

I work in the American Museum of Natural History and they keep a colony of Atta Cephalotes in their insectarium exhibit. Seeing them do their work in the morning is always amazing.

[coppurt]

An interesting quote from Wikipedia: “A special caste of workers manages the colony's rubbish dump. These ants are excluded from the rest of the colony. If any wander outside the dump, the other ants will kill them or force them back. Rubbish workers are often contaminated with disease and toxins, and live only half as long as their peers.”

[hornetscout]

Moth Light Media, I would like to thank you. Your videos are some of the most humble and honest I've ever seen in this type of content. You say what is true, remind us that a claim is controversial, and never add your own opinions. They are perfect for falling asleep to.

[lalehiandeity]

Glad to see the intro is back! Its quaint charm really gives your videos a special identity.

[DaComrade]

"It was a good time to be a fungus."

Damn, according to my reincarnation chart I was a fern at the time.

[GamingDoge]

"how ants learned to control fungus"

"So the dinosaurs..."

[jansenart]

So really what's more impressive is that mammals were eventually able to harness plants and animals like insects have for millions of years.

[halowaffle]

Bugs are weird, because I think bees are the most individually intelligent insects by a lot, but it's Ants that have somehow, almost seemingly by accident, made some of the most impressive technological advancements of any animal other than humans.

I wonder if it has less to do with intelligence, and more to do with the combination of creating new generations at such a fast rate, and having the need to adapt to outside factors so quickly due to their miniscule size? Maybe ants are just a sort of evolutionary superconducter.

[rl]

“I don’t know why everyone’s complaining. I think the aftermath of the impact has been pretty great! Am I right, guys? Guys? Oh, yeah. They’re dead…welp, more food for us!”
-Fungas, 66 million years ago

[freddyP]

Work in a lab studying leaf cutter ants 🐜 so happy to see this video today! Sharing with our team!

[rotarypower]

That iconic splash in the opening sequence is back!

[MndYourwnBusness]

Did you know about Allomerus decemarticulatus? It's an ant species that shows a different symbiosis with fungus compared to fungus growing ants. Instead of eating the fungus, they use it as a tool to catch prey- but they still raise it.

[DavidGraeberWasRight]

Nice of the ant Dale Ward to send in his family pics at 0:55 !

[dougthedonkey]

I’m imagining an ant world where the lower attines are the hippie “heirloom tomato” types that get all smug about how they don’t eat unnatural, refined fungus

[latheofheaven]

I am subscribed to lots of biology / evolution / paleontology channels, and yours is right at the top on my list. You often cover things that I haven't heard about elsewhere, or even thought about. Fascinating. Keep it up!

[chrisbolland]

As always, amazing content I can be lazer focused on or drift off to sleep to. Your voice is so soothing and I love learning about the different animals and plants you have to tell us about.
My favorite video of yours is the ancient giant mushroom one. Thanks for producing such excellent content!