My son got an ant farm for Christmas, which I wasn't thrilled about, even though I knew he asked for one. I mean, I KILL ants that come into my house. Little bastards.
Anyway, it took forever to get the ants (you have to send a coupon for them, and who knew ants could be on backorder?) but we got them yesterday. They came in a little tube, and about 1/3rd of them were dead. But the rest, big-ass harvester ants, were alive and kicking.
So we (meaning Bryan, because I'm not touching the things,) dumped them into the little gel farm. And I have to say that the little critters have been more entertaining than just about anything I've found on TV since we got them.
I mean, I knew they were intelligent, social, and hardworking. But those little suckers are just amazing. I can't believe how organized they are. And how well they work together.
One little ant got stuck between the gel and the side of the wall. It didn't look good. It was buried in the gel, barely moving. But three ants spent about 1/2 an hour digging him out. One would pull on the stuck ant's abdomen, and the others would dig. Eventually, they tugged him out of the hole and then spent another 1/2 hour cleaning him. I mean, I know PEOPLE who wouldn't come to another person's rescue, but those little ants worked their butts off to save their colony mate.
I think I respect ants a little more now.
Which doesn't mean that they are any more welcome to swarm my pantry. I'll respect them outside, thank you very much.
Back to ant-watching…
-
Very Cool! And strangely, I can easily picture you sitting there watching them. 
by Sasha
on May 20th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
-
I was sitting here scratching while reading your post. 
Any mention of ants, spiders, ticks…anything like that - I start scratching. 
Like you, I hate ants, but I can see how watching them would be entertaining too.
I’ll just live vicariously through you since I REFUSE to buy my kids an ant farm. LMAO
by Cindy
on May 20th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
-
You’re absolutely right.
I’ve seen them at work.
Aren’t they amazing?
I often find myself admiring the humanity of critters.
Sometimes makes me wonder what’s wrong with us…
by raine
on May 21st, 2007 at 12:55 am
-
Lol! I hear you on the respecting them outside. I get spray happy when there’s ants in my house,I loathe the ones that go into my shower,I don’t know what attracts them there 
….My husband wants us to get an ant farm for the kids,if we do it’s going to have to be an outdoor thing.I agree with Cindy on bugs making me itchy with the thought.
by danette
on May 21st, 2007 at 4:18 pm
-
Geez, I got choked up just reading that. Not that I want any, but how awesome!
-
LOL, Sasha! Because I do sit there and watch them! They might be ants, but they are little critters…my husband figures I’ll be nurturing them soon. 
??:
Cindy, that’s funny! I itch when I watch shows about things like lice and mites. Which gross me out SOOOOO bad. Told my son if he ever gets a tick, he’s sitting outside until his dad gets home. *g*
Raine, I’m so with you. Animals are so far beyond us. Humans suck sometimes.
Danette, I buy spray in bulk! LOL
Shannon, it is very awesome. I’m so impressed by those critters. I almost feel bad that we’re keeping them in a farm!
by Larissa
on May 21st, 2007 at 10:13 pm
-
People could learn so much from such small insect.
-
Tempest, I totally agree. 
by Larissa
on May 21st, 2007 at 11:27 pm
-
I don’t think I could ever have an ant farm in my house. I kill the little bastards, too. Hate them. We once lived in a house with speckled Burbur carpet. I was pregnant. With two little toddlers running around. And we suddenly felt something crawling on us. Then we saw them. Ants, all over the carpet. I mean ALL OVER. The speckles were moving. Ick. I get chills just thinking about the millions of them. No ant farms for me. 
by Misa
on May 22nd, 2007 at 11:15 am
