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A formicarium (pl.: formicaria or formicariums) or ant farm is a vivarium which is designed primarily for the study of ant colonies and how ants behave and for the enjoyment of ants as pets. Those who study ant behavior are known as myrmecologists .
Some major ants can grow 16mm long, which is pretty big for an ant! Mutualism Between Ants and Fungi Leafcutter ants build massive nests that can reach 20 feet deep.
In some cases, it is believed that ants can achieve productivity levels similar to the early stages of human agriculture. Ants also domesticate numerous animal species, especially aphids and Lepidoptera. Discovered only in 2016, ant farming and agriculture with plants is a rapidly evolving field of discoveries.
A formicarium, which is a housing for an ant colony. Note the talcum powder/rubbing alcohol lubricant mixture applied around the top perimeter of the enclosure, to prevent ants from escaping. Ant-keeping (or ant keeping) is a hobby involving the capture, care, and observation of ants and ant colonies. [1] It is a form of lay myrmecology. The ...
Ant colonies have a complex social structure. Ants’ jobs are determined and can be changed by age. As ants grow older their jobs move them farther from the queen, or center of the colony. Younger ants work within the nest protecting the queen and young. Sometimes, a queen is not present and is replaced by egg-laying workers.
Higher attines, in contrast, live in colonies made of 5–10 million ants that live and work within hundreds of interconnected fungus-bearing chambers in huge subterranean nests. [ 2 ] [ 33 ] Some colonies are so large, they can be seen from satellite photos , measuring up to 600 m 3 (21,000 cu ft).
The follower ant maintains contact with the lead ant by frequently touching the leader's legs and abdomen with its antennae. [2] As predators, scavengers, and herbivores, ants have a variety of food sources, for which they may journey as far as 200 meters from their nest, spraying a scent trail as they go. [ 3 ]
The word myrmecology was coined by William Morton Wheeler (1865–1937), although human interest in the life of ants goes back to ancient times. The earliest scientific thinking based on observation of ant life was that of Auguste Forel (1848–1931), a Swiss psychologist who initially was interested in ideas of instinct, learning, and society.