00:00The pine forests of Northern Europe are home to a highly skilled building squad.
00:07Up to half a million craftsmen working together in unison.
00:13This might look like just a big fat old pile of pine needles,
00:18but it's actually a sophisticated work of precision engineering by a mega army of wood ants.
00:25These little guys spend every waking moment working together to construct and maintain their colossal home.
00:33It's a busy life. And when I say colossal, I mean properly colossal.
00:38This thing can hit a towering six and a half feet high.
00:42To put that in perspective, it's like us humans cranking out a skyscraper.
00:48Absolutely mind-blowing.
00:50But what really sets these ants apart is their ability to harness the power of the sun.
00:57Pine needles are all over the forest floor.
01:00Their shape, size, ability to repel water and retain heat make them the perfect construction material.
01:08At the top of the pile, they are thatched together to create a waterproof roof.
01:15Essential protection for the precious cargo that lies beneath.
01:19Nestled safely inside their mound, thousands of precious eggs and larvae must be kept dry.
01:26But more importantly, they require a constant temperature of around 85 degrees Fahrenheit to survive.
01:33And here's where the real genius kicks in.
01:37Teams of worker ants help regulate the temperature.
01:40Each ant doubles as a mini insect-y solar panel.
01:45When the sun's out, they swarm to the south-facing side of the mound and soak up some rays, warming their bodies.
01:53As soon as they hit the right temperature, they rush back into the nest to transfer the heat energy.
01:59While a fresh team of cool ants head out to replace them, ready for their sunbathing stint.
02:05And if that wasn't enough, wood ants have also engineered their very own air conditioning system.
02:11Once the nest reaches the optimum temperature, worker ants expertly maintain it by sealing and opening holes, managing the airflow just like the air vents in our own modern buildings.
02:24This flow of fresh air also regulates humidity and minimizes the risk of nasty fungal spores.
02:31there are two different things accidents.
02:33Here's the smaller…
02:35here are three little spores…
02:36We are going to haveً to create some very additional spores.
02:38Here are two little spores.
02:40We are going to have more than one that we see here.
02:47Here's the final…
02:52we have three little spores.
02:53the band is looking at the other…
02:54they'll have to live your eyes…
02:55and now we are going to have some very special…
02:57here are two little spores.
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