Got a problem with termites? The Mofu, an ancient people in northern Cameroon, certainly did during a drought year, but their solution had nothing to do with the usual pest controls and everything to do with the tribe's longtime interdependence with the insect world. The farming Mofu share crops with insects (which also make up part of the Mofu's diet) in what is described in this NOVA episode as a "mutual balance of survival." When that balance is disrupted, however, during a year without rain, a half-million termites surface from underground to invade the Mofu's homes and granaries. To get rid of them, the local shaman uses his knowledge and skills to call forth the termites' enemy: the Jaglavak, a ferocious red ant that cuts through anything in its path with powerful pincers. Master of the Killer Ants uses macro-photography to enter the tunnels of the termites (exploring their social order—comprised of workers, soldiers, and an enormous queen who lays thousands of eggs), as well as the territories of the Jaglavak, providing a startling view of the ants' violent attack on the termites. While the Jaglavak do their cleaner job, the Mofu wonder if the ants themselves may later become a problem once the termites are gone. Featuring excellent on-location footage, this documentary tells us as much about the Mofu as it does about their enemies, looking at everything from their leadership structure to their recipes for tangy dishes of grasshoppers. DVD extras include printable materials for educators. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)
Master of the Killer Ants
(2006) 54 min. DVD: $19.95. WGBH Boston Video. PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 978-1-59375-806-6. Volume 23, Issue 4
Master of the Killer Ants
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