Bug Note Episode 13: The Man Who Discovered a New Ant Species in His Backyard
Most of us probably don’t know every species of ant roaming our backyards — we might even have trouble identifying the differences between species. But for one professor at the University of Utah, understanding ant biodiversity is both his job and his passion. On this episode of Bug Note, host Dan Potter chats with Jack Longino, Ph.D., a specialist in global ant diversity. Listen to the podcast here or scroll down to watch the video version.
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Longino was drawn into a career of ecology by his childhood fascination of insects. He was (and continues to be) enamored with the world of bugs — choosing to focus his academic pursuits on ants! Today, he splits his time between researching taxonomy (the classification, naming, and organization of species) and ecology (the relationships between living species and their environments). This means he’s looking at the characteristics of individual species, their range and distribution (where those species live), and how the changing climate might affect how and where they survive. While much of his work involves conducting large-scale, regional species inventories or utilizing advanced imaging technology, he still makes time to observe nature...and, sometimes new discoveries happen in the most unlikely of places.
One of these unexpected discoveries came in 2018, while Longino was looking for bugs near the rhubarb plants in his backyard. “[It was] one of the weirdest things that's happened to me in my professional career,” he said. “I looked down and there were these ants that I knew. I knew the genus, or group of ants they belonged to, but they were way out of place in Utah.”
It was a group typically found in the tropics, though a few rare species can be found in southern Arizona. Naturally, Longino’s first thought was that these ants had been unintentionally introduced to Utah in potting soil.
As Longino compared the species in his backyard to databases of ant taxonomy, he came to an astonishing conclusion: this was an entirely different species, unknown to science.
Beyond the obvious shock of discovering a new species while gardening, Longino also recognized this experience as a great example of the discoveries that still await us. “The world of insects is enormous,” he said. “What we know are the bones, or major groups that exist. But once you get down to the level of individual species… you can find out that there are [many] species that have not [yet] been recognized by scientists.”
Bug Note on YouTube
Check out the extended version of the conversation on YouTube. Be sure to like and subscribe to receive notice of upcoming episodes.
About Bug Note
Bug Note is hosted by Daniel Potter, a science writer who's also worked in the world of public radio for many years, and who loves fresh air and storytime. He's joined by Dr. Jason Cryan, NHMU’s Sarah B. George Executive Director and trained entomologist, and Christy Bills, NHMU's Invertebrate Collections Manager, as well as other bug-loving guests. Video production by Blank Space. The podcast is created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum of Utah, with the expertise and support of its scientific, philanthropic, marketing, and education teams. Special thanks to NHMU friend and insect enthusiast Ted Fridirici.
Authors
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By Olivia Barney
Olivia serves as NHMU’s Marketing Copywriter/Coordinator, where she collaborates across departments to craft engaging stories that help bring groundbreaking research projects to life. She might be the Oxford comma’s number one fan.
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By Dan Potter
Daniel Potter is a science writer and audio producer based in Nashville, Tennessee. He's reported for Nashville Public Radio and KQED in San Francisco, and has appeared on Science Friday and PBS NewsHour. He's also written for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Some of his writing appears in the 2023 book Bay Curious: Exploring the Hidden True Stories of the San Francisco Bay Area.
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By Jason Cryan, Ph.D.
Areas of Expertise • Museum administration and leadership • Evolutionary biology • Entomology • Plant-feeding insects of the Order Hemiptera • Planthoppers, spittlebugs, treehoppers Background Jason Cryan, Ph.D., serves as the fourth executive director of the Natural History Museum of Utah. With its rich, 50-year history as the most important natural history museum in America’s...
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By Christy Bills
Areas of Expertise • Insect collection curation • Science communication • Fireflies in the Western U.S. • Community Science Background Christy joined the Museum staff in 1998 and has been managing the invertebrate collections with the help of volunteers and interns ever since. Moving from 19th century technologies, she shepherded the collection from outdated housing to archival...
