Leaf-Cutter
Ants
This sculpture
was inspired by Leaf-cutter ants, which are an incredible species with
an amazing story.
The leaves are actually cut by the ants to bring back to the nest to
feed a fungus which they tend like a garden, keeping it
free of pests and disease. In return for safety and food, the fungus
provides the ants with nutrition via a secreted substance.
This mutualistic relationship is thought to have evolved about 50-65
million years ago in the Amazonian Basin.
Another incredible aspect to this relationship is the ants' sensitive
ability to detect when the fungus doesn't like the leaves
the ants are feeding it. If this happens, the ants will cease to bring
the fungus that type of leaf!
For more information on these fascinating creatures, as well as some
beautiful images, click here.
MAKING THE SCULPTURE
The bodies of the ants were made from melting solder into a soapstone
mold, with a piece of wire running through the middle
to hold the 3 segments together. The legs are made from twisted
twist-ties and are added to the thorax by remelting the solder for
each leg. Very tricky, because any legs already added, would start to
move once the solder was remelted. Each ant was given a quick
sprayed coat of gold paint.
The silver leaves were cut from a tennisball can and hammered over a
thin piece of wire to give the "veined" effect.
The antennae and silver leaves are super-glued to the head and the ants
are super-glued to the dry gumtree branch.
