The big #anthill I pass on my lunchtime walks is coming to life!
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The big #anthill I pass on my lunchtime walks is coming to life! (for size reference, the hill is somewhere between 4 and 5 feet tall.
I don't check it daily so it's possible that I'm late to catch on, but this was the first time all winter I've seen activity on the hill. They're moving slowly, presumably to conserve energy.
A good lesson, that: Move slowly. Conserve energy.
Have humans ever made anything as proportionally magnificent? Look at this nest, it's designed to maintain the perfect micro-climate. It's the home to 100,000s of ants. It's made of natural materials and perfectly integrated into the forest... not just "not imposing" but actively making the forest a better place.
And yet it towers like the work of the best engineers to collect the rays of the sun like the great pyramid.
But there is no pharaoh. Only the colony.
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That is a good looking ant hill.
Are you in Europe or out west in the US?
It's a little odd for them to be this active in winter, but if there is sun they will go out and try to warm-up.
They do this thing where they sit in the sun and get warm. Then go deep in the nest and get cold... over and over, slowly warming up the nest with their bodies.
Oh god…right up to the last sentence I thought this was just a cute story about ants doing that thing where you go in the sauna and then the snowbank just for fun
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Oh god…right up to the last sentence I thought this was just a cute story about ants doing that thing where you go in the sauna and then the snowbank just for fun
Isn't that done to help melt the snow?
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Isn't that done to help melt the snow?
an ancient Nordic ritual to bring the spring. So altruistic. -
Have humans ever made anything as proportionally magnificent? Look at this nest, it's designed to maintain the perfect micro-climate. It's the home to 100,000s of ants. It's made of natural materials and perfectly integrated into the forest... not just "not imposing" but actively making the forest a better place.
And yet it towers like the work of the best engineers to collect the rays of the sun like the great pyramid.
But there is no pharaoh. Only the colony.
And here is a shocking tale of how humans have tried to claim that they made great hearths, but it turns out... these too were maybe* just the work of ants.
(Seriously, it's an interesting debate, and I'm fascinated how the debate is between anthropogenic origin or ANTpogenic origin since ants make that much of a mark.)
*or maybe not. there is a debate
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And here is a shocking tale of how humans have tried to claim that they made great hearths, but it turns out... these too were maybe* just the work of ants.
(Seriously, it's an interesting debate, and I'm fascinated how the debate is between anthropogenic origin or ANTpogenic origin since ants make that much of a mark.)
*or maybe not. there is a debate
@futurebird @dicenbuttons I literally, using the literal definition of the word "literal", laughed out loud, in public. -
Oh god…right up to the last sentence I thought this was just a cute story about ants doing that thing where you go in the sauna and then the snowbank just for fun
What could be more fun than helping the colony get warm? Your little larvae sisters are so cold and you can bring them the rays of the sun.
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That is a good looking ant hill.
Are you in Europe or out west in the US?
It's a little odd for them to be this active in winter, but if there is sun they will go out and try to warm-up.
They do this thing where they sit in the sun and get warm. Then go deep in the nest and get cold... over and over, slowly warming up the nest with their bodies.
I'm over in the PNW, about 45 mins south of Seattle.
The whole area is scattered with big anthills like this; I think these ants have some kind of communal hive thing going on where they cooperate rather than compete, but I'm no expert.
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I'm over in the PNW, about 45 mins south of Seattle.
The whole area is scattered with big anthills like this; I think these ants have some kind of communal hive thing going on where they cooperate rather than compete, but I'm no expert.
That sounds like Formica obscuripes (common name "thatching ant" although this covers several kinds of Formica wood ants...) and they have the right colors and are in the right location.
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That sounds like Formica obscuripes (common name "thatching ant" although this covers several kinds of Formica wood ants...) and they have the right colors and are in the right location.
If you can get a macro photo we can narrow it down... although, the way these ants live tends to be somewhat similar.
Getting to know thatching ants: a general guide for the Pacific Northwest
Hi there! I’m a student currently researching western thatching ants (Formica obscuripes) in western Washington. Working with iNaturalist to locate colonies has been really useful to me and encouraged me to continue cont…
iNaturalist Community Forum (forum.inaturalist.org)
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I'm over in the PNW, about 45 mins south of Seattle.
The whole area is scattered with big anthills like this; I think these ants have some kind of communal hive thing going on where they cooperate rather than compete, but I'm no expert.
@dicenbuttons @futurebird
Since you are so focused on ants, you DO give us a shout when #PhaseIV is active, right?
