An ant colony is a frenzy of activity. Somehow, in the midst of what appears to be a sea of chaos, the ants manage to work together to create an orderly home. Does this coordination require communication? If so, what would an ant’s “words” be like? How many words are in the ant vocabulary? Here, evolutionary biologist Edward O. Wilson is translator and guide on a tour through the ant vernacular.

Image courtesy of Damien Quick