Speaking of Military Parades?
Ants do it better.

Here is a chapter from a story that I was working on two years ago "The Planet of the Ants" it's very different from the book I am working on now but this was my favorite chapter: "The War Memorial Parade of the Ants"

I was going for a more fantasy tone. It's the story of an academic who is sent by Earth to spy on the ants and what she learns living with them: the dark secrets of the history of their world:

The War Memorial Parade of the Ants

The War Memorial Parade of the Ants When the Provost learned I was interested in attending the Ants’ Memorial Civic Parade, she insisted on “using her influence” to secure a seat for me in the bandstand—among the dignitaries and the honored ants too elderly to march. When Timothy found out I had ...

Google Docs (docs.google.com)

@futurebird This is brilliant! Especially love "the Hour of the Wasp." I wrote something similar in 2015 but about caterpillars in the rainforests of China. You have a Provost, I have the Magistrate. And there's also a mantis, but not so friendly!

@freequaybuoy

I love stories with interesting bug people. If you ever share any of it please let me know.

@futurebird Me too! Just after I started it The Bees by Laline Paull came out - must've been something in the air. It was my first short story in print, in this collection, but looks like there's only one physical copy left, though there is a Kindle edition (sorry for Amazon, only place that has it). I could send you the PDF proof if you'd rather, but these days I'm afraid of LLMs, but that's silly, we must still share our work - and I would love to read more of yours.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mechanics-Institute-Review-2017-Stories/dp/0957583389

@futurebird Fun fact that inspired me to write it - the bagworm caterpillar makes an actual pagoda out leaves and silk.

@futurebird Fun fact that inspired me to write it - the bagworm caterpillar makes an actual pagoda out leaves and silk.