When Native Americans used to tie captives over an anthill as a means of
execution, they probably chose Pogonomyrmex, or harvester ants, members of a
genus that dominates much of North and South America. They chose well, Stephen
Taber says in The World of the Harvester Ants which gives the low down on the
ants’ formidable stings—not to mention their anatomy, communication and
evolutionary history. The book includes a list of every Harvester species
—fossil and present. Published by Texas A&M University Press,
$34.95, ISBN 0890968152.
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