In the arid lands of the Sonoran Desert, between Arizona and Mexico, the ant species Pogonomyrmex barbatus is redefining what we consider collective intelligence. These tiny insects, no more than 2 millimeters in length, build complex geometric structures known as myrmecological geoglyphs.
The structures, discovered in 2019 by the Instituto de Ecología of UNAM, consist of perfect concentric patterns with an exact radius of 5 meters, creating circles visible only through aerial or satellite imagery. Most surprisingly, the insects lack sufficient visual capacity to perceive the global pattern they are creating.
- Materials used: Exclusively quartz and feldspar fragments specifically selected for their reflectivity
- Thermal function: The patterns reduce the temperature of the underground nest by 8°C during the summer
- Chemical communication: Each ant follows pheromone trails that are part of a distributed algorithm with no central leader
Researchers from the University of Arizona have shown that these patterns follow mathematics similar to Fibonacci spirals, optimizing the foraging area and heat dissipation. The Desierto Inteligente project is currently monitoring 47 colonies using drones equipped with multispectral cameras to decipher how the emergent intelligence of millions of individuals produces architecture on a geographical scale.
Source: Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). 'Desierto Inteligente' Project, University of Arizona (2023)
