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New developments; escape attempts? links to web sites
Two new entrances to the left have appeared since yesterday. In Photo #1 above, you can see the beginning of the two most recent tunnels as seen yesterday around 5:30 p.m.
Photo #2 shows a view from the right front. To the right you can see two ants tunneling through the mound they've made from the gel balls. Also, that floor tunnel is extending toward the right... should be all the way over to the right side of habitat by tomorrow.
Photo #3 is a view more from the left front. Look at those mounds taking shape at the surface.
Photo #4 shows the back side view. You can really see the floor level tunnel taking shape. This is where they seem to congregate for resting and sleeping needs.
Also noticed this evening that there appears to be less laziness or less numbers of ants “doing nothing”. I wondered about that this morning as I drove to our Community Breakfast at Cedar Cliff UMC at 5:30 a.m.
It occurred to me that ants have jobs, and they have to learn their jobs. I read that somewhere. Perhaps the ants I observed doing nothing were in the process of learning their new skills, or perhaps they were skilled in an area that was not needed here, such as caring for eggs or feeding the Queen. My brother gave me that idea… I’ll keep researching… he may be right. Today, all the ants were very busy whether at the surface reconstructing the pile of gel balls or digging in the tunnels below.
I made a discovery this evening: the ants at the surface have piled the mound of gel balls so high on the left side of the surface that they are able to reach the white foam seal along the edge of the lid. The same seal that keeps the lid on snug, keeps the ants in, keeps other pests out. A couple of cell mates have been working steadily all day chewing away at the foam and it’s completely gone on the left side of the lid.
Another new discovery: They are now tunneling into the mounds they have created at the surface. Unfortunately, I had to gently knock down one of the mounds because of the damage they were doing to the lid. I didn’t hurt their tunnels, though.
Final observation: the majority of the ants have congregated in the very bottom tunnel. At the time of this writing, there are only three ants running around on the surface, and one of them is carrying a dead ant. There are two new dead ants at the surface. I will remove them tomorrow.
I’ve been busy looking for websites today to help interested readers link up to for more information. I hope you find them helpful, amusing, interesting. https://www2.carolina.com This is the Carolina Biological web site home page. When you get there, if you are interested in ordering an ant farm, or you just want ants for your self-created ant farm, here’s the path to take: in left box beneath Browse the Catalog, click on Elementary Science and Math >Animals > Insects and Spiders > Ant Farm, Giant. This final selection takes you to a page where you can see the item order numbers for the ant farm, refill sand and food, and replacement ants. Or, if you live in or near Burlington, North Carolina, you can call Carolina Biological (336-584-0381) and say you wish to place an order for Harvester Ants. You will be connected with someone who can help you. They offered me two sizes, one for 50 +/- ants, and one for 100 +/- ants. I ordered the smaller amount for $7.95 plus tax, drove to Whitsett the next day and picked up my ants. There was more than enough for two small ant farms in the smaller order.http://fl.essortment.com/instructionshow_rgqk.htm Here you can find instructions for making a simple ant farm out of a large glass jar, fish bowl, or aquarium tank. This is probably a convenient smaller version, and sounds easy to make. I haven’t tried it, though, because I’m not ready to dig up an ant hill to get the ants with a queen. (Remember, in the USA, ant farm suppliers cannot ship the queen ant with her brood. Against the law in the States.) You can order them on-line, or call Carolina Biological Supplies in Burlington, like I did.
http://www.pagewise.com/do-it-yourself-making-ant-farm.htm This PageWise site is filled with answers to all sorts of questions. Thousands of experts contribute their research and writing of over 80,000 articles in various topic areas, including how to make your own ant farm. Also a great site to tag as a favorite for research projects. http://www.discoverthis.com/ants-bugs.html Here you will find a page of various ant farms to order on-line at Discover This. Prices range from $9.95 to $18.95. Shipping on order over $100 is free in US; other order flat rate of $5.00. If you have a little bug investigator in your home, you might find something he or she would enjoy on this page. Nothing you would find in the Wal-Mart toy section, that’s for sure. http://www.antnest.co.uk/Keep.html I've mentioned it before, and I’ll mention it again. How to build an ant nest is the topic on this page of Myrm’s Ant Nest. This is not a kid’s website, mind you. Maybe a high schooler or industrious middle schooler could do this on their own. Think Science Project! I just love visiting this place! It’s one of my top five favorite websites. Here’s a guy who loves studying our tiny six-legged neighbors. He has five thriving colonies of ants, and he writes about them in his journals. He lives in England, and they can order queen ants there. Nothing to buy at this site, but it is a nice, ant-friendly web-site. You’ve got to check out the pictures of his huge, aquarium-sized ant farms!Thank you for visiting. Please come back. New updates daily. Don’t forget to leave a comment, tell me what you think, or about your ant farm.
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hey, Marlene and Stevie had a ball. Marlene really enjoyed spending that time with you, as always. I have no problem with posting her picture on your site but can't say for Stevies mom. The ants are so busy. I can't wait to see them up close and personal but preferably through the glass.
8/7/05 7:58 PM