Ants In the Pantry

Recently, an announced came about Ants found around the Ice making machine in the Break room of our office. Maintenance had been called to have an exterminator sent out to get rid of the ant menace. We were advised not to leave any food items outside.

 

I remember my growing up days back home, when we peacefully coexisted with all pervasive ants in our house. The bite from red ants were less painful but irritating due to formic acid injected by protruding stout. The tiny black ants won't bite, but cluster amount any chunk of sweet they find, creating a nuisance around.

 

There used to another variety of fiery Red Fire ants, locally known as KAAI, which can be seen making beeline on the branches on the Mango trees. I have seen folks smearing their body with ash and climb the mango trees to escape their painful bites while plucking the fruit. There was another kind of Big Black Ants, locally known as ZANDA, whose bite can be painful. Here, in Southern America, its very common to see Ants forming mounds on lawns, though they rarely invade home. They are eaten by Armadillo, very often seen around during summer, to complete the food chain. My son was once bitten by ants when he accidentally stepped on an Ant mound, severely causing Allergy though out his body. I have bitten may times by these creatures back home, rarely suffered anything besides a red swelling. Our kids don't have the same immunity we got growing up in India.

 

There are a few funny anecdotes related to this tiny, hardworking, harmless creature.A teacher in our school, named G N Dash, was nicknamed so by some creative student as Zanda, which sounded like an abbreviated version of formers name. It could also be due to his dark, lanky figure, very much resembling the Black Ant. In late 1980s, there was this poster of a Hindi movie PAAP KA ANT (End of Sin), being misprinted as PAAPA KA ANTA (Father's Waist), a completely different meaning.

 

The notice was replaced late in the afternoon, indicating that the Ant menace has been taken care of. Ants in the Pantry is far better and bearable than ants in the pants.