The Power of Empathy and Reflections Thereupon

[Guest guest]

The Power of Empathy by Arthur Ciaramicoli and

Katherine Ketcham.

 

" we find an unusual but definitely empathic

relationship developing between ants and

myrmecophilous (ant-loving) caterpillars. These

caterpillars have 'ant organs' specifically

designed to attract and communicate with ants. One

of these organs is located on the caterpillar's

posterior; when stroked by ants this gland secretes

a clear fluid rich in amino acids. The ants lap it

up, getting a healthy, nutritious snack for a

minimum amount of effort.

 

" With a free meal provided whenever they want it,

the ants tend to stick around. That's precisely

what the caterpillar wants, because in times of

trouble you can't find a more loyal or tenacious

friend than an ant. When the caterpillar is

threatened by a predatory insect like a wasp, it

enlist the ants' help by calling on a second 'ant

organ.' A pair of tentacles behind the

caterpillar's head emits a chemical signal, which

alerts the ants to move into a defensive position,

ready to attack any offending creature. If the

wasp tires to sting the caterpillar, the ants are

prepared to fight the enemy to death.

 

" Ant-loving caterpillars provide a fascinating look

at the precursors of negative' empathy. The

caterpillar dupes the ants into thinking that their

survival depends on the caterpillar's destiny when,

in truth, the caterpillar needs the ants much more

than the ants need the caterpillar. The wasp, after

all, could care less about the tiny ants--it wants

to feast on the plump, fleshy caterpillar. But the

ants have been won over by the free twenty-four-

hour buffet and the caterpillar's ability to

communicate with them in a language they

understand. With these enticements the ants align

themselves with the caterpillar, willing to fight

to the death to protect it. "

 

 

 

I received this from a friend.

I found it fascinating.

I am disinclined to say the caterpillar *dupes*

the ants however. It is Nature Herself that has

created this arrangement.

 

This reminds me of some recent reflections about ants

of my own. I was getting some ants streaming into my

bathroom. I used my usual technique of spraying Windex

on their " trails " . It seems to work pretty well. My

theory is that ants know where their trails are by way

of " chemical markers " laid down. The idea with the

Windex is to obliterate/diminish their ability to

read those signs.

 

Anyway, finding a stray ant here and there I would

squash it with my fingers. I thought of the Jainists

and others who might abhor such " killing " , but to me

that is no different than trimming the leaves of a

hedge. As I see it, it is not the " ant " that is the

organism, but the colony. A single ant is to the

colony as is a leaf to a bush.

 

To explore that notion further, note that to kill the

queen is to kill the colony. That would be analogous

to destroying the brain or heart of an animal. You

might say the queen is a " vital organ " of the colony.

 

Note the " step up " in abstraction from ant to colony.

It is a similar step up to move from colony/critter to

species. In the case of the " Power of Empathy "

article, the relationship is not really between ant

and caterpillar, nor even between ant colony and

caterpillar. Rather the relationship is between the

ant species and the caterpillar species. And that is

my point in saying the arrangement is created by

Nature Herself.

 

Bill