Following the Trail of the Harvester Ants: Editor's Note

In this edition of the Paper Trail, a different sort of trail has brought arising and established researchers together: the ant. Often thought of as one of the lowliest creatures, the harvester ant, as these two individuals have documented, is one of the feistiest and most persistent species known to humans. Although it bears the brunt of many an errant step and is unfairly characterized in more than a couple of famous cartoons, ants are miraculous in their behavior and sense of community. This is especially important during drought, when conserving water means continued reproduction and, ultimately, survival. Watching ants do what they do has been a valuable and important pastime for both of these researchers; the 30‐yr trail of the established opened a new door for the up‐and‐comer, which will last a lifetime