Armin Schieb

top: original version of the book cover

“The Ant Colony" has been published as an illustrated natural history book in German, English, and French. Each edition comprises 128 pages.
Originally, however, the project was conceived as a slipcase containing eight double-sided, accordion-folded panels. Fully unfolded, each panel would have measured 164 × 28.5 cm.
The front of each panel features an illustrated scene, while the reverse presents supplementary infographics. Only a selection is shown here.

The chapters are structured as follows:

1. Wood Ants

A. Anatomy of a Worker
B. The Castes
C. Caste Morphology
D. Circulation and Respiration
E. Nervous System and Digestive Tract
F. The Glands

Discover here detailed information about Chapter 1.

2. Colony Founding

A. Swarming
B. Nuptial Flight
C. Mating
D. Social Parasitism

3. Nest Building

A. Building Materials
B. Structure of the Mound
C. The Annual Cycle

4. The Scouts

A. Exploring the Forest
B. Enemies of Ants
C. Laying Trails
D. Visual Orientation
E. Celestial Orientation
F. Returning to the Nest

5. Trail Formation

A. Recruitment
B. Tandem Running
C. Trail Formation

6. Nutrition

A. The Aphid Colony
B. Enemies and Competitors
C. The Flow of Food
D. Food Distribution
E. Waste Disposal

7. Division of Labour

A. Development of the Castes
B. Activities of the Reproductive Ants
C. Activities of Young Workers
D. Activities of Older Workers

8. Nest Relocation

A. The Attack on the Nest
B. Repelling the Enemy
C. The Destroyed Mound
D. Exploring the Surroundings
E. Alternative Nesting Sites
F. Relocation of the Colony

Read the interview with Armin Schieb and Psychology Today.
Double-page spreads from the published book