My Ant Farm Project
I like bugs
During spring, I like to build up little ant farms to keep in the house. I only keep them for the season -- I'm often running so many projects that I'm bound to forget to feed and water them. Absent-minded professor and all that.
While I have them, I try to research and document everything I can. Photos and interesting facts make it fun to learn.
ANT SCAN
2010-07-30 23:29:11
by: jovial_cynic
by: jovial_cynic
Holy smokes, this is an amazing video. The introduction text reads:
I installed an ant colony inside my scanner. I scanned the nest each week during the last five years.
What an amazing project.
comments [0]
I installed an ant colony inside my scanner. I scanned the nest each week during the last five years.
ANTS in my scanner > a five years time-lapse! from françois vautier on Vimeo.
What an amazing project.
comments [0]
ANT DRINKING FROM A RAINDROP
2010-07-23 16:10:14
by: jovial_cynic
by: jovial_cynic
Saw this on boingboing and couldn't resist reposting. Ants and all that.
I love the way the ant appears to lounge on the water drop at the very end of it.
comments [0]
I love the way the ant appears to lounge on the water drop at the very end of it.
comments [0]
BUGS-IN-LAW
2008-05-26 20:26:28
by: jovial_cynic
by: jovial_cynic
I visited my brother-in-law and his wife in eastern Washington, as they recently purchased their first home. While there, I happened to see a bunch of familiar ants from a colony under his back patio.
As it turns out, the ants go crazy over Doritos - something I didn't realize when I had my own aphaenogaster colony. I just figured that all ants liked sugar. I guess these ants like salty foods as well.
Here's a nice close-up shot of one of the critters.
I also managed to stumble upon a beautiful little spider. I don't see a lot of hairy spiders on the west coast, so I wanted to get a good shot of it.
(click for big)
Look at those green iridescent fangs. Delicious.
And here's a video of the spider running away from me.
And since my digital camera handles video well enough, I figured I'd capture a video of a little roley poley bug as well. They're so cute.
comments [3]
As it turns out, the ants go crazy over Doritos - something I didn't realize when I had my own aphaenogaster colony. I just figured that all ants liked sugar. I guess these ants like salty foods as well.
Here's a nice close-up shot of one of the critters.
I also managed to stumble upon a beautiful little spider. I don't see a lot of hairy spiders on the west coast, so I wanted to get a good shot of it.
(click for big)
Look at those green iridescent fangs. Delicious.
And here's a video of the spider running away from me.
And since my digital camera handles video well enough, I figured I'd capture a video of a little roley poley bug as well. They're so cute.
comments [3]
SO LONG, ANTS
2007-12-17 08:46:25
by: jovial_cynic
by: jovial_cynic
image: Ant (cc) Jeff Kubina
Well, folks - the ants are doing fine and well, but it's time to close this chapter of the ant section of my blog. I offered my ants up for sale to a local school that will display the ants as a year-round exhibit, so the ants are no longer in my possession. I loved keeping up with them and watching them, but I have a THOUSAND projects going on, and I'm absent-minded enough to risk letting them all die by forgetting to feed or water them. They're in much better hands, and the kids at the school will have the chance to see the little critters doing their thing.
Come next spring, I may have a change of heart and start again with another species I find in my back yard. We shall see.
To everybody that commented and expressed appreciation with this first ant project, thanks. I'm glad I've turned people onto one of my childhood passions and dreams. I've always wanted to have an antfarm, ever since I was just a little kid, and I've accomplished that dream.