Secret lives of ants

Not everyone is fascinated by ants. But Choe (Ewha Women's Univ., South Korea) sees in them all of the drama, adventure, deception, and intrigue observed in the best mystery movies, plus all of the sorrows and joys apparent in romances. Much of the information presented was previously published in a Korean science magazine, and one chapter actually appeared in a Korean literature textbook for middle school students. Choe's goal is to expose the fascinating miniature world of ants to curious minds. The focus revolves around the remarkable behavior that ants exhibit, and there are many variations to consider, but the book explains basic life history patterns. The author draws parallels between ant societies and human society, which is reflected in the titles of the three main sections of the book: "The Economics of Ant Society," "The Culture of Ant Society," and "The Politics of Ant Society." The 16 chapters are interestingly written and very informative. Prey, predators, nest parasites, farming practices, communication, orientation, homing, and coevolution with plants and other insects all make appearances in these pages. Peppered with exceptional photographs and drawings, this book represents a condensed version of B. Holldobler and E. Wilson's massive work The Ants (CH, Oct'90, 28-0954). Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic and general readers. P. K. Lago University of Mississippi