#ant trap

The elders say it appeared on our land on the seventh sun of the Coldest Time.  We were a prosperous people, living peacefully of the land, taking only enough to feed ourselves.  We scavenged foods from the lands, from the plants and the castoffs from the Old Ones, too large and ancient to notice.  Some of us worshipped the Old Ones for their benevolence and mercy in providing us with food and shelter through the works of Their Hands.  The Old Ones rarely paid attention to our prayers.  Or, maybe they did, and we just didn’t like their answers.

Back to the Thing.  It didn’t look like anything anyone had ever seen; it did not resemble the structures we built for ourselves, or the ones we had seen in old books, in tales of the Old Ones and our own ancestors.  It looked impossible, and smelled rancorously sweet, like pure honey.  Its walls extended up, up, up into the sky, smooth and white as riverstone, and broke into large doorways on each side.  No one knew what to make of it at first; an emergency meeting was called to discuss the Thing.

“Something must be done!” the people clamored.  “Is it safe?  What of the children?”

Big Tall, right hand to the Queen, approached with arms outstretched, eyes slowly traveling over the crowd.  Everyone hushed under the gaze of his dark eyes, his stern face.  He waited for total silence before speaking, his voice loud enough to ring through the chamber, loud enough to reach the Queen in her quarters nearby.  “We understand your concern,” he said, speaking, as always, for himself and for Her Majesty.  “We know that you are frightened.”

“What is it?” cried a voice.  It was Nimble Legs, daughter of Many Mother.  She stood tall, cupping hands around her mouth so her voice could reach Big Tall on his platform.

“We do not know,” Big Tall hummed.  “But we must find out.  We will send our finest soldiers to investigate it, and they will report what it is and if it is safe.”

So it was done.  Big Tall sent out his soldiers: Sharp Teeth, Strong Grip, and Keen Eye.  They gathered themselves, spoke gravely to their families, and left the city, off to investigate the Thing to see what it was and what It wanted.  Sharp Teeth took the lead, fiercely protecting his comrades; Strong Grip traveled in the middle, placing a hand on his comrades here and there to assure them that they were safe; Keen Eye walked behind, looking out to be sure that no one would attack her and her comrades from behind.  

It was the beginning of the Coldest Time; the three soldiers protected each other not just from predators, from the creatures of the night, from the perils of travel, but from the chill itself.  Their line grew longer and shorter as they nestled together for warmth and safety, whispering reassurances and questions into each other’s ears.

“What do you think the Thing is?” asked Keen Eyes.

“I think it’s a hoax,” Strong Grip said haughtily.  “I think it never existed in the first place, and those who saw it, perhaps were confused and truly saw a large stone or an early snow.”

“I trust Big Tall,” Sharp Teeth said.  “He has never steered us wrong before, and so I don’t intend to steer him wrong.  We must find the Thing, approach It, and find out what It wants.”

The others could not argue with this; the trio continued in relative silence, protecting each other against the cold.

They arrived at The Thing before sundown.  It was so imposing, even in the waning light; it cast a shadow upon the Three Brave Soldiers, and, brave as they may be, they were afraid.  After a short silence, Sharp Teeth spoke up.  “Come on, soldiers.  We have a mission.”  With that, he stepped up to the Thing and moved toward one of the doorways.

Keen Eye looked behind her, and all around her, before urging Strong Grip inside after Sharp Teeth, and then following herself.  The interior was dark.  But they could all smell the sweet scent, like honey in a flower, like milk and sugar.  What had before registered as overwhelming now seemed enticing and beautiful.

Strong Grip spoke first. “Is it food?”

“It smells like food,” Sharp Teeth agreed.

“Is it safe?” Keen Eye asked.

“Someone should taste it,” Sharp Teeth said.

The three looked between each other in the dim light.  In the end, it was Sharp Teeth who agreed, arguing that he was the strongest--even stronger than the mighty Strong Grip--and would be most likely to survive if poisoned.  He scooped up some of the sweet goop in a hand and touched it to his lips.  The others watched as he slowly took some into his mouth, holding their breaths as he tasted it.  No one spoke for several minutes.  Finally, Sharp Teeth spoke.

“It is delicious,” he said.  “And I feel fantastic.  We should bring this back to the city, to share with everyone.  This year, no one will want for food.”

The other two shouted with joy; they gathered up as much of the Stuff as they could and marched in their line back to the city.  Big Tall was waiting for them on their return.  “Well?” he demanded.  “What have you learned?”

“The Thing is full of delicious Stuff,” Sharp Teeth cried.  “We brought it back for everyone to try.  But even our strong and many arms could not carry it all; we need help transferring the Stuff from the the Thing back to our city.”

Big Tall smiled and nodded with joy and satisfaction.  “You have done well,” he praised them.  “Place the Stuff in the main chambers for everyone to eat, and I will send more with you to harvest it.”

So it was done.  The three soldiers soon became many, traveling back and forth from the Thing to bring its bounty to the city, where Big Tall encouraged its citizens to eat, drink and be merry.  Everyone gathered for a feast, eating the delicious, sweet Stuff until their bellies were full.  Big Tall had a generous portion brought to the Queen, but She refused.

“I do not eat anything I have not seen before,” She droned.  “You may consume this Stuff, but I will stick to what I know.”  Big Tall gave Her his respects and his apologies, quietly eating Her portion instead.

Everyone had a wonderful and prosperous evening, full of laughter and merriment.  They soon retired to their beds, heavy with sleep and laughter.

Many did not awake.  Those who did felt sick and disoriented; Big Tall, sweating and staggering, went to find the soldiers who had brought the Stuff.  “We are betrayed!” he cried to them.  “You have killed us!”

Keen Eyes knelt by the bodies of her fallen comrades, weak and sick herself.  “I am sorry,” she rasped.  “We took and ate from the Thing and we felt no ill effects!  We wanted only to share with everyone!”  But as soon as she said it, Keen Eyes too fell to the ground.

Big Tall was distraught.  He moved from home to home, checking on his subjects.  Many Mother had fallen ill; Nimble Legs had died.  All those who Big Tall had known and cherished eventually fell until he, too, succumbed to the poison.  He expired on the steps to the Queen’s chambers.

It was a massacre.  Anyone who had eaten the delicious, sweet Stuff perished within the next sun.  The Queen mourned quietly, but knew She would have new subjects before long; She always did, and She had outlived many others before, relying on Her noble, queenly wisdom and Her unique position of safety.  

Now, seasons later, as we hear the story of the fallen city and the Thing that destroyed it, we remember never to eat from the foreign, from the gifts of the Old Ones.  We sometimes see Things ourselves, or perhaps The Thing, monolithic, uncaring, and terrible.  We remember our fallen ancestors; we remember our Queen and Her Infinite Wisdom.  Yet we all await the day that the Old Ones leave us a gift we are too foolish, too curious to resist.  This, warns the Queen, will be our downfall.

We await it.

What kind of ant is ten feet tall?

How to Make an Outdoor Ant Trap to Protect Fruit Trees from Aphid and Scale Pests

Spring is the time when the weather warms up, and nature springs to life. Fruit trees flower and put out their new leaves ready for the growing season. Sugar rich sap rises from the roots of fruit trees to fuel the new season’s growth. Gardeners look forward to the beginnings of spring, but so do ants! These little critters keep a hidden stash of aphid and scale insects hidden away in their…