Macquarie University's Huntsman Telescope (https://huntsman.space) has been knocked out by ants.
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Macquarie University's Huntsman Telescope (https://huntsman.space) has been knocked out by ants. Again.
The ants find their way into the electrical power distribution cabinet outside the telescope dome in large numbers, cause short circuits that trip the circuit breakers, and often get inside the breakers too, ruining them.
This happened in January 2018, December 2018, November 2019, December 2019 (took out several telescopes by tripping upstream breakers), February 2020, and now.
After the first few times this happened we looked into whether this was a common problem, and found that anecdotally some species of ants do seem to be attracted to electrical equipment (to the detriment of both the ants and the equipment) but there seemed to be no agreement as to why. Any thoughts on this, @futurebird?
Here are some slides from a conference talk I gave in December 2019, between the 3rd and 4th incident.
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Macquarie University's Huntsman Telescope (https://huntsman.space) has been knocked out by ants. Again.
The ants find their way into the electrical power distribution cabinet outside the telescope dome in large numbers, cause short circuits that trip the circuit breakers, and often get inside the breakers too, ruining them.
This happened in January 2018, December 2018, November 2019, December 2019 (took out several telescopes by tripping upstream breakers), February 2020, and now.
After the first few times this happened we looked into whether this was a common problem, and found that anecdotally some species of ants do seem to be attracted to electrical equipment (to the detriment of both the ants and the equipment) but there seemed to be no agreement as to why. Any thoughts on this, @futurebird?
Here are some slides from a conference talk I gave in December 2019, between the 3rd and 4th incident.
My understanding is this happens because when one ant dies she releases an alarm which calls more ants and they kind of go to war with the board like it's a rival colony.
But, I don't know if that's been established experimentally. I do find it very plausible.
As for being "attracted to electronics" that I know less about. But ants are attracted to their sisters when they are in distress.
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F myrmepropagandist shared this topic
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Macquarie University's Huntsman Telescope (https://huntsman.space) has been knocked out by ants. Again.
The ants find their way into the electrical power distribution cabinet outside the telescope dome in large numbers, cause short circuits that trip the circuit breakers, and often get inside the breakers too, ruining them.
This happened in January 2018, December 2018, November 2019, December 2019 (took out several telescopes by tripping upstream breakers), February 2020, and now.
After the first few times this happened we looked into whether this was a common problem, and found that anecdotally some species of ants do seem to be attracted to electrical equipment (to the detriment of both the ants and the equipment) but there seemed to be no agreement as to why. Any thoughts on this, @futurebird?
Here are some slides from a conference talk I gave in December 2019, between the 3rd and 4th incident.
Of course they ants could be trying to shut down the telescope to keep you from seeing their home planet... oh no I've said too much.
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Macquarie University's Huntsman Telescope (https://huntsman.space) has been knocked out by ants. Again.
The ants find their way into the electrical power distribution cabinet outside the telescope dome in large numbers, cause short circuits that trip the circuit breakers, and often get inside the breakers too, ruining them.
This happened in January 2018, December 2018, November 2019, December 2019 (took out several telescopes by tripping upstream breakers), February 2020, and now.
After the first few times this happened we looked into whether this was a common problem, and found that anecdotally some species of ants do seem to be attracted to electrical equipment (to the detriment of both the ants and the equipment) but there seemed to be no agreement as to why. Any thoughts on this, @futurebird?
Here are some slides from a conference talk I gave in December 2019, between the 3rd and 4th incident.
@spacelizard
Electronics boxes seem like they might be fairly warm. Might a nice, warm nesting site be attractive?
@futurebird -
@spacelizard
Electronics boxes seem like they might be fairly warm. Might a nice, warm nesting site be attractive?
@futurebirdApparently it's really hot, though I do know of this happening with a sprinkler system once. But that was in NYC.
Anthony Horton (@spacelizard@aus.social)
@futurebird@sauropods.win Thanks. The alarm pheromone explanation makes sense. I saw some claims that the reasons ants did this was because they were attracted to the warmth generated by the electrical equipment but that never sounded right to me, not least because every time this has happened to us it's been during the Australian summer when most living things are trying to escape the heat, not seek out extra. Ozone generated by the electrical equipment was also mentioned, but why ants would be attracted to that I have no idea.
Aus.Social (aus.social)
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Macquarie University's Huntsman Telescope (https://huntsman.space) has been knocked out by ants. Again.
The ants find their way into the electrical power distribution cabinet outside the telescope dome in large numbers, cause short circuits that trip the circuit breakers, and often get inside the breakers too, ruining them.
This happened in January 2018, December 2018, November 2019, December 2019 (took out several telescopes by tripping upstream breakers), February 2020, and now.
After the first few times this happened we looked into whether this was a common problem, and found that anecdotally some species of ants do seem to be attracted to electrical equipment (to the detriment of both the ants and the equipment) but there seemed to be no agreement as to why. Any thoughts on this, @futurebird?
Here are some slides from a conference talk I gave in December 2019, between the 3rd and 4th incident.
We named the telescope after the iconic huntsman spiders, which are abundant at Siding Spring Observatory, including inside the various telescope buildings. Perhaps the ants took offence that we chose to honour other arthropods and not them.
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We named the telescope after the iconic huntsman spiders, which are abundant at Siding Spring Observatory, including inside the various telescope buildings. Perhaps the ants took offence that we chose to honour other arthropods and not them.
You *do* realize one of the first plot points in Phase IV is how the scientists, who are in a remote outpost in the desert, notice that all of the spiders are gone and there is a strange glowing body in the night sky... Of course how could anyone know with the telescope down...
If you see these things around your camp?... IDK buddy. This is beyond my powers of ant persuasion.
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You *do* realize one of the first plot points in Phase IV is how the scientists, who are in a remote outpost in the desert, notice that all of the spiders are gone and there is a strange glowing body in the night sky... Of course how could anyone know with the telescope down...
If you see these things around your camp?... IDK buddy. This is beyond my powers of ant persuasion.
Also... just to check. Does your life suddenly have a kick ass synth electronic soundtrack?
