Fabelhafte Insekten - Episode Guide

Present on Earth for over 100 million years, ants have adapted to extreme climatic conditions and displayed tremendous ingenuity to survive, thanks in particular to their extraordinary social organisation. How can we explain this exceptional longevity? And what can we learn from these insects with their sharp collective intelligence?

According to a recent study, there are 2.5 million ants for every human being on the planet. While the majority of them live in tropical areas, they have nevertheless conquered all ecosystems, from forests to savannahs to swamps. Nearly 16,000 species have been described to date, and many remain to be discovered.

With some 400,000 described species, beetles represent a quarter of the planet's animal diversity. While many of them, like the giant beetle Goliathus regius, make their home in tropical forests, this order of insects actually occupies all environments except the polar regions and the ocean floor. Europe is no exception, with no fewer than 20,000 species recorded to date. Colourful specimens or masters of camouflage, of all sizes and shapes, beetles are major pollinators, contributing significantly to maintaining the balance of ecosystems.