Ants

[Claymonkey]

The Hornet vs. Bee thread got me thinking about my research into ants in the past. I have a sculpture idea that is based on the social dynamics of ants versus people. Observation versus just research is always helpful. Anyway, for a long time I've wanted to build my own ant colony habitat, which I'll likely make a sculpture in its own right.

Does anyone here have any experience in ants? Aside from killing them in your backyard of course. I've read that you can go find a young colony with a bucket and a post digger and extract the queen relatively easily. Any thoughts on this?

[Jessterw]

We transplanted an ant colony when I was in sixth grade. Did exactly what you mentioned with a post digger and a bucket. It does have to be a relatively new colony given that more established ones will extend out beyond what a post digger can get with one extraction.

They are definitely fascinating to watch.

[Dr Mordrid]

Ant farm kits come with a certificate with which you can order a colony or you can order a "refill" kit;

http://www.discoverthis.com/ant-farm-refill-kit.html

http://www.antsalive.com/antssupplies.htm

http://www.butterfly-gifts.com/ant-farms.html

http://boreal.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_541259

[Claymonkey]

Thanks Doc. Sadly you generally can't get a queen with any of those kits. I'm pretty interested in the process start to finish. From past research I found it was far easier to collect your own specimens. That and you don't have to worry about importing species not native to the area.

[schmosef]

Dude, just come over to my place sometime.

There's plenty of ants crawling around.

If you can grab them and put them under glass then all the better.

[Dr Mordrid]

Mo0re fun if you find the queen

[schmosef]

Doc, come on over! Bring your sledge hammer. I don't care if you knock all the walls down to find that bitch!

I've been slowly fighting with my condo board to do something about the ants for a few years now but I haven't had enough personal time to really deal with it properly.

[Jon P. Inghram]

Don't tell me nobody else has played SimAnt?

[Dr Mordrid]

They don't use sledgehammers here; they use dogs, FLIR, microwaves and fiberoptic borescopes.

[schmosef]

Yeah, I need to find a pest control company here that does that.

[Greebe]

Want some free fireants?

I've noted 9 different ant species here and I'm sure there are more.

[TnT]

If you want to know more about ants then you ever wanted to find The Ants by Burt Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson. Incredible book goes into every facet known about ant colonies... it's a big book. I actually own it.

[Brian Ellis]

I use chemical warfare! You can buy little plastic boxes containing honey flavoured with a slow acting insecticide, made by Bayer. You open the box and leave it in the path the ants take. They transport the honey back to the nest, where the insecticide evaporates, killing off the whole nest. Very effective and you don't see any more ants after about a day. Much easier than sledgehammers and it works with several species.

[Claymonkey]

If you want to know more about ants then you ever wanted to find The Ants by Burt Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson. Incredible book goes into every facet known about ant colonies... it's a big book. I actually own it.

I'll have to check that book out. Actually the book that Amazon links with it "Journey to the Ants" is what started me down this path in the first place. I picked up a copy when I worked for Harvard University Press. Very interesting read.

[Claymonkey]

Want some free fireants?

I've noted 9 different ant species here and I'm sure there are more.

LOL if I want to store a weapon in my house then yes that would be a good solution