Gramps arrived last week with the children fresh from their swimming lesson. He was clutching a box and strode past me, at the front door through the house, into the back garden followed by the children. He was on a mission. He had just bought an ant world.
Our garden is an ant paradise. The 4 year old regularly comes to show me his latest kidnap victim before releasing it back into the wild before, more than likely, cycling over it accidentally on his bike. A few weeks ago they both spent quite a lot of time capturing ants in bowls only for them to escape.
Clearly Gramps was on the case. After putting together the contraption and telling the children to collect 40 ants he left … Thanks Gramps.
There followed lots of squealing, shouting and hysterical cries of “I’VE GOT ONE” just to get eight of the little buggers in there. No sooner do you open the hatch to put another one in then three break free and run for the hills.
Four days in and we have about 20 in there. They seem happy enough, chomping on apple and cucumber and making burrows.
I have learnt that ants are very sociable, that is until you add ants from different colonies. Ants from our front and back gardens do not mix well. They fight and have to be removed … naughty ants.
The 4 year old seems to have handed his title of West Yorkshire Ant Harasser over to the 5 year old who is taking her job very seriously.
… they make me feel itchy.
13 Comments on "Ant Watch – Day 4"
Excellent post thanks!
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I got the kids an ant farm, got bored with only seeing the 10 ants I managed to catch in there, so then put ants from another colony in there and watched them fight to the death. Then felt really bad. Then remembered that I’m meant to be a non-practising Buddhist. Then realised why I was non-practising.
What fun!
so nice of Gramps to help….smiles.
… and then leave!
How cool is that!
I think I’d be buying the ready made made colonies rather than catch them one by one, although it sounds like you all had fun catching them lol.
I wonder if you can buy an any colony on e bay?
You can buy a colony on ebay for £3.99! Money well spent I’d say
Having been through all this with my own children, several decades ago, this is fine entertainment for a while, but don’t let them expect a colony to become established. They need a queen for that. And it’s really tricky to keep the moisture level right.
At the moment it is clouded with condensation!
Itching! I’m itching!
When I lived Dahn Sarf we had an ant problem n the kitchen. *Shudders*
I reckon my Big E would love this.
*makes mental note not to tell Dad/Grandad/Uncle of its existence*
We had one of those. I hate to tell you this, but you can actually buy a whole colony to put in there too (rather than catching your own).
Ours got busted by an indoor baseball game. I found ants in surprising orifices for weeks afterwards.
Although the ants are encased we have found a couple in the car this weekend. WTF?
Also discovered the colonies on ebay. Pah. When this lot have killed each other I think I might go for that option
What wonderful fun out there with Gramps on a beautiful day.
They did have fun, and are continuing to do so. The Ant World was only £5 so cheap fun too!