Unlike modern authors, Homer is not quick to reveal his personal beliefs; rather, they come about subtly, through the dialogue between two characters.
Harvester ant. Harvester ant is a common name for any of the species or genera of ants that collect seeds (called seed predation), or mushrooms as in the case of Euprenolepis procera, which are stored in the nest in communal chambers called granaries.
The ants in the colony obtain food by traveling out from the nest as far as 31 miles in search of seeds and other food supplies. Looking at the top of a red harvester ant mound will sometimes reveal trails leading out from the colony.