AntWorks part II: new hunting
As I mentioned before, the first attempt to acquire some new citizens of AntWorks was not exactly a success. I invited an expert to help me with the task and he showed me the best spot to catch the ants: the front of Science Park.
We got around twenty healthy (at the moment of their transport, confirmed by rapid movements along the grass) exemplars of Formica Ostiensis Scientia. This time the transport from their natural environment to the space-technology habitat took about 10 minutes, to ensure no or minimal harm. Nevertheless, after we move them to the container, we realized that some individuals lost an antenna, eventually a leg or two. I have to note that there is a possibility that by random sampling some ants could have had their disabilities 1) congenitally, 2) acquired before we spot them.
Anyway, the population was moved into the nutritious environment and quickly began to explore the boundaries of the container. To our great surprise about six of the ants managed to escape without a notice. It seems the most probable that they discovered the two air-channels in the lid and slipped through them out.
Situation at the moment: some tunnels have been dug, and one dead body found, probably a casualty of heavy workload. Ants appear to be relaxed, almost apathic, often found in big groups, probably discussing the recent change. The air-channels have been sealed, but air condition is regulated through supplies by opening the main lid.
Maybe your other ants ate the six missing ants. Or perhaps you had anti-ants and ants and anti-ants annihilated.
That is possible for some indeed! The manual mentions something about not mixing different species because “they don’t play well with others” (p.3). But those that were running around my monitor in the morning seem to then escape the mandibles of the remaining anti-ants.
There was also an alternative theory, that some ‘agents’ were sent from the front of Science Park to rescue the captives. And those were the ones I’ve seen when I arrived…
Oh my!
I only can say I have mix feelingsā¦
- This is fun :-)
- Poor ants! sacrifice on science’s name.
wow! cool toy! :)
I want something like that.
Just spend an hour searching how to build house for them myself :)
Hey Roman, what about setting up a video feed of the ant experiment for all of us. Being cooped up in this office, I forgot about the natural world for months at a time.
I am working at the moment towards a real time ant TV (anTV), before satisfying the demand, let me offer some nice shots:
Awesome,
I can’t wait.
Jus