Saharan Silver Ant (Cataglyphis bombycina) ~ Surviving Persecution by Reflecting God's Light
In the Sahara, the sun rules all. No creature can survive its full heat, which averages 104ºF. Yet the unlikeliest of creatures, an ant, has a trick up its sleeve. The Saharan Silver ant is the only animal in this ecosystem capable of withstanding the heat of day at high noon. Their peculiar armor, much like a space suit, is the cause. These ants are silver-colored, and their dainty panoply of mirrors reflects sunlight. Thus when their last predators hide away in the ground to hide from the extreme heat, the Saharan Silver ants scurry out to gather their daily food. Their shimmering bodies have only minutes before the sun burns through them. They march out quickly, locating food and working together to bring it back to the nest. After 10 minutes, the last ants are either back in their burrow or crippled by heatstroke.
The Saharan Silver Ant is a remarkable creature. When I ponder these brave little a...