Overview

25 booths
121 faculty, staff, post-doctoral fellows, students
40 community volunteers
3,500 visitors (approx.)

Theme insect

This year’s theme insect was the desert leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex versicolor. Some of Earth’s earliest farmers, these ants collect plant tissue to feed to their underground fungal gardens. Trails are fun to watch as workers actively bring provisions into their volcano-shaped nests during the cooler parts of the day. The differently-sized individuals, representing different castes, have different jobs within the colony. They do not bite or sting.

Press

Arizona Daily Star
Sept 13, 2012