Carl W. Rettenmeyer started his studies of army ants in 1952 when he was a junior at Swarthmore College . At that time he got the great opportunity to serve as field assistant for Dr. Theodore C. Schneirla, Department of Animal Behavior, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. They went to Barro Colorado Island, Panama to study army ants for about six months in 1952. Dr. Rettenmeyer died in April, 2009.

Marian E. Rettenmeyer, Carl’s wife since 1954, assisted him on his Ph. D. research in 1956 and continued to assist him with army ant studies until Carl's death in 2009. She now works with Julia Joseph to complete army ant projects that Carl started before he died.

Julia Joseph, research assistant, is in charge of information technology, video editing, sorting and labeling specimens, counting inventory and many additional tasks. She has also travelled to Costa Rica on four occasions to conduct research, collect specimens and video army ants in their natural environment.

Still Available!
Astonishing Army Ants DVD
DVD based on 35 years of research in Central and South America
60 hours of video has been edited to 55 minutes to show a complete picture of the behavior of the Large Swarm Raiding Army Ant, Eciton burchellii.

Available January 2010!
The DVD ASSOCIATES of Eciton burchellii completed by Julia Joseph and Marian Rettenmeyer following the death of Carl Rettenmeyer on April 9, 2009, is now available for purchase. Because we believe it is extremely important that the scientific specimens described in this DVD be carefully preserved and that future study of these specimens be supported, we are now offering to send a copy of the new DVD for your contribution of $25.00 or more to the Carl and Marian Rettenmeyer Ant Guest Endowment

To Receive DVDs With Your Donation, Download Order Form Here