Asian Needle Ant
Mermex is the Greek word for ant. Greeks understood ants as being automatons loyal to their ruler. In some versions of Greek mythology, Zeus populates the deserted island of island of Aegina by transforming ants on a tree into people called Myrmidons. In another version, Zeus in the form of an ant, seduces Eurymedousa, a princess of Pythia (the first myrmecologist?). She had a son, Myrmidon who established the Myrmidons.
As warriors, the Myrmidons were fiercely loyal to their leader and tribe (as are ants) and fought alongside Achilles in the Trojan War. Today, the term Myrmidon refers to an unquestioning follower, one who obeys and executes orders without question, protest or thought.
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