Living with Bill the Ant in Costa Rica is Pura Vida for a Photographer
What is living in Costa Rica like? Outstanding and amazing in many ways and as a photographer I have seen the beautiful and incredible things right on my doorstep and this is an example of what I experienced.
As you know we have leaf cutter ants in the jungle and they are a very busy lot who work very hard all day long. This is a story about their strength and persistence that happened one day.
An ant we will call Bill, was travelling along with all of his buddies as they were devastating my favourite flowering tree near my driveway. Bill dropped his leaf to pick up something he thought might be more beneficial to the group, a matchstick, the strong wooden type. He began carrying it upright as if it were a leaf. I think he was a little confused but, of course, maybe I was the only one confused.
I wanted to lessen his load so I carefully picked up the matchstick. Astonishingly Bill would not let go and came with the match, his little feet trying to get traction in the open air.
I took the match, with ant, to the terrace of my house and put it down thinking that he would let go. Obviously Bill was looking for his marching band, because he began to march around with the matchstick held high weaving around chairs and tables but remaining on the terrace.
Without hesitation he marched around and around like a soldier carrying his flag. As a photographer I watched and photographed in amazement for over an hour and could not help but wonder when he would drop the match and go on his merry way as he must have been panting by now, not that you can see an ant pant, believe me!
Now I realize their stamina and persistence when they march like an army carrying their leaves back to their nest. As Bill became very tired I eventually was able to take away the matchstick and he was freed from his load to go back to, what else, carrying leaves.
I now have a great respect for their stamina and persistence when they are carrying their leaves back to help their community in building a nest. Eventually Bill became very tired and I took this opportunity to take away the matchstick
Sometimes when the ants become a problem and invade areas of my home as they do in a tropical country, I think of Bill. Then I step back and cannot help but admire what an incredible creature the little ant is.
Frank Scott writes from sunny Costa Rica where he is a professional Costa Rica Photographer offering lovely photography tours. Some of his work can be seen in Costa Rica Vacations, a very informative destination guide to this lovely country. This and other unique content ” articles are available with free reprint rights.
