*Astonishing Army Ants* DVD, 55 minutes, produced by Carl W.
Rettenmeyer, the only scientific documentary on any group of ants in the
Western Hemisphere. Price $20.00 plus $ 4.00 shipping and handling.
Available from the producer at EEB, UCONN 3043, Storrs, CT 06269-3043 or
online at www.armyantbiology.com.

BRIEF REVIEW:
     Army ants, together with species of leaf-cutter ants of the genus Atta, are arguably the most spectacular ants in this hemisphere. The raiding behavior and nesting biology of several species of Eciton/have been studied and marveled at for more than a hundred years. Even so, much of what has been published is incorrect. For more than 35 years Carl Rettenmeyer has followed and observed army ants in the tropical forests of Central and South America and he is probably our foremost authority on these ants.      The quality of the filming ranges from good to terrific. A lot of it is the standard stuff: long streams of army ants running across the forest floor and along vegetation, capturing and dismembering prey and such like. The narration is generally good, but sometimes condescending - or at least it seems that way to anyone who is familiar with this group of ants. And, it is blessedly free of the factual errors that frequently turn up in "Animal Planet" documentaries. The film is recommended for ages eight to adult. This is a compelling visual documentary of the world of the army ants. It should be in both public and school libraries.

Roy R. Snelling
Natural History Museum
of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007 U.S.A
ph. 213-763-3365
FAX; 213-746-2999
email: antmanrs@nhm.org