It´s not only the biological aspect of this still not fully understood megahives with perfect optimization and adaptability, but the social aspects liIt´s not only the biological aspect of this still not fully understood megahives with perfect optimization and adaptability, but the social aspects like sociogenesis, eusociality, social algorithms, complex caste systems, labor division, etc. too that make state-building insects unique.
Evolution brought the functioning of those entities to a high level and something like mixing it with the feelings of a social animal like the human will be a large topic for the future. We already build superstructures, megacolonies, etc. ourselves, but they are dysfunctional, not in balance with the surrounding ecosystem and the residents are not so competent and much lazier. Both the organization and the individuals suck in comparison to insect societies.
At the momentary level of evolution, insects are just communicating using relatively primitive chemical ways, some kind of probability calculation via analyzing big data (bees searching the best places and communicating it) and primitive sign language, but with time or a little help from the friend biotechnology, the abilities may rise exponentially.
The only problem of superorganisms may be the unimportance of the single individual, the gruesomeness against anything that is not optimized and in the best interest of the whole colony. That limitates creativity and has been seen in human societies too.
Similar to human production circles and value chains everything is automated using the shortest way possible, the best growing conditions and most exploitation of labor. Combining the technical automatization and the biological machinery may be, like bionic and similar interdisciplinary fields that fuse biological and technical adaptations, be a key industry in the future. Symbiotic, bio-engineered ants, bees, wasps, termites, etc. that are integrated into a fully automated farming and factory complex, beginning with biological pest protection on the fields, building infrastructure to the factories, etc. that go hand in hand with renaturation, terraforming, building megastructures and space colonialization.
As I like to imagine and mention, we would be doomed if we were confronted with a supercolony building superorganism alien species. Just one single queen, able do clone, duplicate, modify, adapt, reproduce, hide, evolve, infiltrate, etc. could act as a kind of biological grey goo. The key element would be the ability to eat and transform each kind of element, mineral, biomass, matter, stone, etc. to reproduce and build own infrastructure. All of our fancy tech wouldn´t help and especially our ridiculously slow replication rate shows how chanceless the battle would be. They can lose many times our whole population without ever wasting thoughts or grieving about it and continue endlessly and undeterred for the hail of the queen and the honor of the swarm. So please be friendly to eusocial insects.
With all the pictures and concentrated knowledge, the antiliation of the reader can begin and I must confess, I might be biased because I am a bit of With all the pictures and concentrated knowledge, the antiliation of the reader can begin and I must confess, I might be biased because I am a bit of a myrmecological fanboy.
Eusociality in insects is, the great to terrifying, trait of organizing huge states without individuality, rudimentary intelligence of single insects and many not understood ways of automating and perfecting each process from war to logistics and breeding. It comes closer to a fully automated system, a machine, a bio-digital fusion of perfection than to a living organism.
The similarities to human societies, especially to totalitarian dictatorships, are so immense that it seems to be a nice philosophical mind game to think of what combinations and differences may arise from more anty humans and more social ants.
I am looking forward to seeing those many open questions solved, new species discovered, the knowledge, wisdom and high organization of ants used for algorithms except for swarm algorithms for automated warfare and in general for more interest in nature, just great books like this one can strengthen.
Reading Hölldobler's other anty books about leafcutter ants and superorganisms is highly recommended if you are in that kind of superstructures and supercolonies building, fascinating animals. It takes time, it´s highly specific, some skimming and scanning won´t be a bad idea, but it´s totally worth it.
Hölldobler's work is amazing, a prime example of what fascinating insights a life dedicated to the love of science can bring and be used to.
Just like Hölldobler's work is amazing, a prime example of what fascinating insights a life dedicated to the love of science can bring and be used to.
Just like termites, those ants have gone an important step even more sophisticated animals such as dolphins, birds, chimps and even some human societies missed. They have agriculture and are independent of hunting and the restrictions the amount of fresh, bloody meat has on the possible population size.
If there would be more research on how to develop symbiotic value chains and sustainable agriculture with the leafcutter ants, the options, both for the ants and humans, would be immense. Understanding those animals brings us closer to optimizing agricultural processes, bioreactors and faster food production and change to endless production of nearly everything. Imagine the combination of the efficiency of Korean and Japanese production lines and mega colonies of ants.
Regarding the love story of ants, plants and mushrooms, many questions are still unanswered, especially how they first met, how their relationship got more and more perfect, how they communicate with each other and what kind of kids in the form of newer, even more effective symbioses may result from the cooperation.
Be it real or robotic ants, both could do really everything, no matter if as kind of household robots and biological helpers in each house or building everything, probably swarming out as soon as a new planet is reached and helping in preparing terraforming.
Modifying and changing gravity, atmospheric pressure, biophysics, biochemistry, etc to enable them to grow to all sizes and forms will be a key element too. Insects may then just be able to live in certain, low gravity areas with special air conditions and die in all other areas, but in those zones, they will be king.
Mario the lone bookwolf
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