About the exhibit & the artist: 

Ants are among the most dominant organisms of the world and make up 10 to 15 percent of the entire animal biomass.  The approximately 8,800 known species can be found from the arctic circle to as far south as Tasmania – only some Polynesian islands east of Tonga have no native ant species.  Their role in terrestrial ecology is vast:  they turn more soil then earthworms, are channelers of energy, and dominatrices of other insects as lead predators of other insects and invertebrates.  As invasive pests they are some of the most destructive insects of Central and South America, damaging crops to hospitalization from stinging.  As eusocial colonies or superorganisms they live in complex caste systems, with division of labor including a queen for reproduction, soldiers, workers and minors who strictly tend to the brood.

Shepherd Myers is an entomologist and illustrator who previously was the Collection Manager at the The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum for over a decade in Honolulu. At fourteen million specimens, it is the largest Pacific Rim and the third largest insect collection in the United States. He has done extensive science outreach with school groups, class room visits, at fairs, festivals, etc, and enjoys teaching as much as working with research and collections. He has also had his illustrations, photos and technical figures published in peer-reviewed journals.