This crazy French scientists lets leaf cutter ants (aka Atta) in Central America bite him all over his body.
The title “Man-Eating” is over-dramatized.
But if you’re interested in ants eating a human, you might check out my “Driver Ants” article (they are the ant most often reported to kill or eat large animals).
Watch “Meat Eating Ants”
Ratings:
- My Rating: 88/100
- IMDB Rating: na
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: na
Release Date: January 6, 2023
My Review of “Meat Eating Ants”
French scientist Yvan Kereun goes to the jungles of Central America to report on leaf cutter ants (aka Atta ants)
First things first, let’s talk numbers. We’re not dealing with your garden variety ant colony here.
These leaf-cutter empires can house up to 200,000 individuals.
That’s more than the population of Monaco, folks. And each of these little titans weighs in at a whopping 8 to 9 grams. I’ve seen smaller chicken nuggets.
Now, you might be thinking, “But Jason, aren’t these just harmless little vegans?” Oh, how wrong you’d be. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill picnic-ruining ants.
These are the Atta cephalotes, the Special Forces of the ant world. They’re pacifists with other ants, sure, but mess with their nest, and you’re in for a world of hurt.
Our host, in a moment of what I can only describe as scientific masochism, decides to demonstrate their cutting power.
On his own skin. Let that sink in. This guy voluntarily let these mini-lumberjacks go to town on his hand.
The result? A bloodbath that would make Quentin Tarantino proud.
But here’s the kicker – these ants aren’t actually out to eat you. They’re just really, really good at defending their turf.
Their mandibles are like tiny pairs of scissors, capable of slicing through human skin with ease. It’s like Edward Scissorhands, but with more legs and less Johnny Depp.
The documentary takes us on a journey through the ants’ elaborate highway system.
Picture this: a trail cleared of debris, stretching for hundreds of meters through the jungle.
It’s like the ant version of the Autobahn, but with more leaves and fewer BMWs.
And let’s not forget the fungus. These ants aren’t just landscapers; they’re farmers. They use all those leaves they cut to grow their own private mushroom gardens. It’s like a tiny, underground Whole Foods.
But the real star of the show? The trash heap. Yes, you heard that right.
These ants have their own landfill, carefully placed away from the main nest to avoid contamination.
It’s like a miniature sanitation department, complete with its own ecosystem of decomposers. Who knew garbage could be so fascinating?
In the end, our host limps away, battered but enlightened. And we’re left with a newfound respect for these tiny terrors. They may not be the man-eaters of Hollywood legend, but they’re certainly not to be trifled with.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly
Chief Maniac, Daily Doc