we are here today to you about ants but really our mission
to you about ants but really our mission
to you about ants but really our mission is to inspire you to take a moment
is to inspire you to take a moment
is to inspire you to take a moment she beauty hiding in plain sight over
she beauty hiding in plain sight over
she beauty hiding in plain sight over the past two years our personal
the past two years our personal
the past two years our personal experience has been that nothing has
experience has been that nothing has
experience has been that nothing has really changed
really changed
really changed but in a way everything has changed the
but in a way everything has changed the
but in a way everything has changed the world around us is no different but what
world around us is no different but what
world around us is no different but what we have discovered in our own backyard
we have discovered in our own backyard
we have discovered in our own backyard has changed the way we look at it we’ve
has changed the way we look at it we’ve
has changed the way we look at it we’ve had the opportunity to appreciate the
had the opportunity to appreciate the
had the opportunity to appreciate the diversity events from the wooded forests
diversity events from the wooded forests
diversity events from the wooded forests of Pennsylvania to the rolling mountains
of Pennsylvania to the rolling mountains
of Pennsylvania to the rolling mountains of the Sierra Nevadas and the white
of the Sierra Nevadas and the white
of the Sierra Nevadas and the white sandy beaches of South Carolina ants as
sandy beaches of South Carolina ants as
sandy beaches of South Carolina ants as we know them are tiny creepy bugs that
we know them are tiny creepy bugs that
we know them are tiny creepy bugs that hide in your cereal boxes or live in
hide in your cereal boxes or live in
hide in your cereal boxes or live in your walls and don’t even bother to pay
your walls and don’t even bother to pay
your walls and don’t even bother to pay rent but really ants are much much more
rent but really ants are much much more
rent but really ants are much much more ant colonies are intricate civilizations
ant colonies are intricate civilizations
ant colonies are intricate civilizations that are made up of thousands of
that are made up of thousands of
that are made up of thousands of individuals who live together without
individuals who live together without
individuals who live together without dispute or conflict in fact their
dispute or conflict in fact their
dispute or conflict in fact their societies are incredibly similar to ours
societies are incredibly similar to ours
societies are incredibly similar to ours with hierarchies armies and even
with hierarchies armies and even
with hierarchies armies and even agriculture our passion for studying the
agriculture our passion for studying the
agriculture our passion for studying the world events has prompted us to interact
world events has prompted us to interact
world events has prompted us to interact with nature in an intimate level and
with nature in an intimate level and
with nature in an intimate level and allowed us to appreciate the wonder and
allowed us to appreciate the wonder and
allowed us to appreciate the wonder and everything to help you understand the
everything to help you understand the
everything to help you understand the sheer magnitude of this magnificent
sheer magnitude of this magnificent
sheer magnitude of this magnificent society let’s look at a few figures the
society let’s look at a few figures the
society let’s look at a few figures the society events evolved over 92 million
society events evolved over 92 million
society events evolved over 92 million years ago
years ago
years ago making it nearly 600 times as old as our
making it nearly 600 times as old as our
making it nearly 600 times as old as our own which evolved less than two hundred
own which evolved less than two hundred
own which evolved less than two hundred thousand years ago there are over 12,000
thousand years ago there are over 12,000
thousand years ago there are over 12,000 recorded species of ants and less than a
recorded species of ants and less than a
recorded species of ants and less than a dozen recorded species of humans for
dozen recorded species of humans for
dozen recorded species of humans for example homo sapiens is one of the eight
example homo sapiens is one of the eight
example homo sapiens is one of the eight species of humans in the genus homo
species of humans in the genus homo
species of humans in the genus homo there are an estimated 10 quadrillion
there are an estimated 10 quadrillion
there are an estimated 10 quadrillion ants on the planet compared to the
ants on the planet compared to the
ants on the planet compared to the United Nations recent estimate of a mere
United Nations recent estimate of a mere
United Nations recent estimate of a mere seven and a half billion people that’s
seven and a half billion people that’s
seven and a half billion people that’s about 1.6 million ants per person which
about 1.6 million ants per person which
about 1.6 million ants per person which in of itself is pretty hard to
in of itself is pretty hard to
in of itself is pretty hard to comprehend ok so our story began four
comprehend ok so our story began four
comprehend ok so our story began four years ago in a middle school science
years ago in a middle school science
years ago in a middle school science classroom with walls lined with
classroom with walls lined with
classroom with walls lined with beautiful text books and posters about
beautiful text books and posters about
beautiful text books and posters about the anatomy of frogs hanging from the
the anatomy of frogs hanging from the
the anatomy of frogs hanging from the windows picture a small fascinated
windows picture a small fascinated
windows picture a small fascinated eighth grader hunched over a glass case
eighth grader hunched over a glass case
eighth grader hunched over a glass case in the corner of this room he’s staring
in the corner of this room he’s staring
in the corner of this room he’s staring at hundreds events all running around
at hundreds events all running around
at hundreds events all running around screaming this way and that he quickly
screaming this way and that he quickly
screaming this way and that he quickly jot down a few notes and then gently
jot down a few notes and then gently
jot down a few notes and then gently puts the case away
puts the case away
puts the case away he’s embarking on a project to explore
he’s embarking on a project to explore
he’s embarking on a project to explore the behavior of ants under different
the behavior of ants under different
the behavior of ants under different conditions but little does he know he
conditions but little does he know he
conditions but little does he know he received a generation of worker ants
received a generation of worker ants
received a generation of worker ants that will refuse to cooperate and his
that will refuse to cooperate and his
that will refuse to cooperate and his experiment will fail regardless of his
experiment will fail regardless of his
experiment will fail regardless of his efforts this fascinated curious kid
efforts this fascinated curious kid
efforts this fascinated curious kid gaping in awe at a few hundred ants was
gaping in awe at a few hundred ants was
gaping in awe at a few hundred ants was me beginning to discover my love for
me beginning to discover my love for
me beginning to discover my love for this beautiful sophisticated world so
this beautiful sophisticated world so
this beautiful sophisticated world so two years ago I try to revive this
two years ago I try to revive this
two years ago I try to revive this project this time with my brother’s help
project this time with my brother’s help
project this time with my brother’s help but early on in the experiment we
but early on in the experiment we
but early on in the experiment we realized that we need many more ants
realized that we need many more ants
realized that we need many more ants than we previously thought since workers
than we previously thought since workers
than we previously thought since workers have lifespans of only a few months we
have lifespans of only a few months we
have lifespans of only a few months we would need to replenish our supply quite
would need to replenish our supply quite
would need to replenish our supply quite often and we didn’t quite have the
often and we didn’t quite have the
often and we didn’t quite have the patience nor the resources to buy as
patience nor the resources to buy as
patience nor the resources to buy as many answer as we wanted so after doing
many answer as we wanted so after doing
many answer as we wanted so after doing some research we discovered that we
some research we discovered that we
some research we discovered that we would need a queen ant queen ants live
would need a queen ant queen ants live
would need a queen ant queen ants live anywhere between 8 and 30 years and they
anywhere between 8 and 30 years and they
anywhere between 8 and 30 years and they constantly lay eggs so their workers
constantly lay eggs so their workers
constantly lay eggs so their workers essentially replaced themselves every
essentially replaced themselves every
essentially replaced themselves every four to six months
four to six months
four to six months this means that throughout a Queens life
this means that throughout a Queens life
this means that throughout a Queens life she gives rise to a seemingly infinite
she gives rise to a seemingly infinite
she gives rise to a seemingly infinite number of ants and each of these ants
number of ants and each of these ants
number of ants and each of these ants served to assist the queen and improve
served to assist the queen and improve
served to assist the queen and improve the overall health of the colony so that
the overall health of the colony so that
the overall health of the colony so that it may live longer in fact and colonies
it may live longer in fact and colonies
it may live longer in fact and colonies are often referred to as super organisms
are often referred to as super organisms
are often referred to as super organisms just as human cells have specialized
just as human cells have specialized
just as human cells have specialized roles to help the body workers have
roles to help the body workers have
roles to help the body workers have specialized roles to help the colony and
specialized roles to help the colony and
specialized roles to help the colony and similar to skin and blood cells in the
similar to skin and blood cells in the
similar to skin and blood cells in the human body the workers are replaced
human body the workers are replaced
human body the workers are replaced every few months now we would actually
every few months now we would actually
every few months now we would actually need to catch a queen instead of digging
need to catch a queen instead of digging
need to catch a queen instead of digging up an established population to reach
up an established population to reach
up an established population to reach the queen we learned that there are
the queen we learned that there are
the queen we learned that there are natural ways of doing so as it turns out
natural ways of doing so as it turns out
natural ways of doing so as it turns out mature wild populations of ants actually
mature wild populations of ants actually
mature wild populations of ants actually produce wings male and female
produce wings male and female
produce wings male and female reproductive scald elates
reproductive scald elates
reproductive scald elates when the conditions are just right the
when the conditions are just right the
when the conditions are just right the colony sends out these reproductives to
colony sends out these reproductives to
colony sends out these reproductives to mate high up in the air a process known
mate high up in the air a process known
mate high up in the air a process known as a nuptial flight these flights occur
as a nuptial flight these flights occur
as a nuptial flight these flights occur during specific times of year under
during specific times of year under
during specific times of year under specific environmental conditions for
specific environmental conditions for
specific environmental conditions for example we learned that certain flights
example we learned that certain flights
example we learned that certain flights occurred after several days of rain or
occurred after several days of rain or
occurred after several days of rain or under certain relative humidities once
under certain relative humidities once
under certain relative humidities once mated a female a late fall to the ground
mated a female a late fall to the ground
mated a female a late fall to the ground sheds her wings and begin searching for
sheds her wings and begin searching for
sheds her wings and begin searching for a spot to dig a founding chamber
a spot to dig a founding chamber
a spot to dig a founding chamber a safe place with a constant humidity
a safe place with a constant humidity
a safe place with a constant humidity gradient or she’ll remain for the
gradient or she’ll remain for the
gradient or she’ll remain for the duration of her life producing and
duration of her life producing and
duration of her life producing and protecting her eggs that will eventually
protecting her eggs that will eventually
protecting her eggs that will eventually become workers all we would need to rear
become workers all we would need to rear
become workers all we would need to rear a colony was the Queen and we would need
a colony was the Queen and we would need
a colony was the Queen and we would need to catch her after a nuptial flight but
to catch her after a nuptial flight but
to catch her after a nuptial flight but before she began to dig a founding
before she began to dig a founding
before she began to dig a founding chamber so our goal was to capture a
chamber so our goal was to capture a
chamber so our goal was to capture a newly mated one and help her raise
newly mated one and help her raise
newly mated one and help her raise workers and start a family so after we
workers and start a family so after we
workers and start a family so after we learned about these nuptial flights we
learned about these nuptial flights we
learned about these nuptial flights we were eager to find her once a mated
were eager to find her once a mated
were eager to find her once a mated queen sheds her wings and digs a
queen sheds her wings and digs a
queen sheds her wings and digs a founding chamber she seals the entrance
founding chamber she seals the entrance
founding chamber she seals the entrance lays eggs and waits for up to half a
lays eggs and waits for up to half a
lays eggs and waits for up to half a year until she has her first generation
year until she has her first generation
year until she has her first generation of workers during this time she does not
of workers during this time she does not
of workers during this time she does not eat at all and barely moves around but
eat at all and barely moves around but
eat at all and barely moves around but when the first workers emerge they open
when the first workers emerge they open
when the first workers emerge they open up their nest entrance and begin to
up their nest entrance and begin to
up their nest entrance and begin to search for food so in order to replicate
search for food so in order to replicate
search for food so in order to replicate this natural chamber we created test
this natural chamber we created test
this natural chamber we created test tube setups artificial environments that
tube setups artificial environments that
tube setups artificial environments that simulated a Queen’s founding chamber by
simulated a Queen’s founding chamber by
simulated a Queen’s founding chamber by providing a humidity gradient and enough
providing a humidity gradient and enough
providing a humidity gradient and enough space for nearly two dozen workers once
space for nearly two dozen workers once
space for nearly two dozen workers once they emerged but unfortunately after a
they emerged but unfortunately after a
they emerged but unfortunately after a few months without any success
few months without any success
few months without any success we nearly gave up hope on finding a
we nearly gave up hope on finding a
we nearly gave up hope on finding a queen finally while walking our dog in
queen finally while walking our dog in
queen finally while walking our dog in June of that year hardly looking out for
June of that year hardly looking out for
June of that year hardly looking out for a nuptial flight at all we were
a nuptial flight at all we were
a nuptial flight at all we were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a
pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a
pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a huge carpenter ant queen after putting
huge carpenter ant queen after putting
huge carpenter ant queen after putting her in a test-tube setup I watched as
her in a test-tube setup I watched as
her in a test-tube setup I watched as she laid eggs and as those eggs slowly
she laid eggs and as those eggs slowly
she laid eggs and as those eggs slowly grew to larva and as those larvae to
grew to larva and as those larvae to
grew to larva and as those larvae to workers over the course of the next
workers over the course of the next
workers over the course of the next couple of months and by the time the
couple of months and by the time the
couple of months and by the time the first generation of workers had fully
first generation of workers had fully
first generation of workers had fully closed I felt a sense of pride that I
closed I felt a sense of pride that I
closed I felt a sense of pride that I would have never before associated with
would have never before associated with
would have never before associated with keeping ants before by helping this
keeping ants before by helping this
keeping ants before by helping this Queen I allowed her to bring life into
Queen I allowed her to bring life into
Queen I allowed her to bring life into the world and the process of doing so
the world and the process of doing so
the world and the process of doing so was truly rewarding so this experience
was truly rewarding so this experience
was truly rewarding so this experience inspired us to continue to catch Queens
inspired us to continue to catch Queens
inspired us to continue to catch Queens throughout the summer and into honor
throughout the summer and into honor
throughout the summer and into honor whenever we caught a queen we kept her
whenever we caught a queen we kept her
whenever we caught a queen we kept her test tube in a dark place like a closet
test tube in a dark place like a closet
test tube in a dark place like a closet which simulated an underground
which simulated an underground
which simulated an underground environment and when the Queen had her
environment and when the Queen had her
environment and when the Queen had her first generation of workers we needed to
first generation of workers we needed to
first generation of workers we needed to feed them so my brother and I used old
feed them so my brother and I used old
feed them so my brother and I used old containers and mason jars to collect
containers and mason jars to collect
containers and mason jars to collect crickets we found outside the crickets
crickets we found outside the crickets
crickets we found outside the crickets were an abundant and nutritious food
were an abundant and nutritious food
were an abundant and nutritious food source but we would need to freeze them
source but we would need to freeze them
source but we would need to freeze them after they were caught to get rid of
after they were caught to get rid of
after they were caught to get rid of parasites or mites they could
parasites or mites they could
parasites or mites they could potentially pass on to the ants we were
potentially pass on to the ants we were
potentially pass on to the ants we were perfectly fine with it but when we told
perfectly fine with it but when we told
perfectly fine with it but when we told our parents they were a little hesitant
our parents they were a little hesitant
our parents they were a little hesitant that we were keeping carpenter ants in
that we were keeping carpenter ants in
that we were keeping carpenter ants in our closets and crickets in the freezer
our closets and crickets in the freezer
our closets and crickets in the freezer we became fascinated by the process of
we became fascinated by the process of
we became fascinated by the process of raising an entire civilization we
raising an entire civilization we
raising an entire civilization we learned how to attract and identify many
learned how to attract and identify many
learned how to attract and identify many kinds of ants and how to provide
kinds of ants and how to provide
kinds of ants and how to provide customized living conditions for each
customized living conditions for each
customized living conditions for each species the more we learned the more
species the more we learned the more
species the more we learned the more there was to explore once autumn had
there was to explore once autumn had
there was to explore once autumn had come to an end it was time for us to
come to an end it was time for us to
come to an end it was time for us to wrap up our fieldwork as the ants
wrap up our fieldwork as the ants
wrap up our fieldwork as the ants outside had sealed up their nest
outside had sealed up their nest
outside had sealed up their nest entrances to prepare for hibernation we
entrances to prepare for hibernation we
entrances to prepare for hibernation we would have to wait some months for
would have to wait some months for
would have to wait some months for enough for flights to starve again in
enough for flights to starve again in
enough for flights to starve again in the spring but this gave us an
the spring but this gave us an
the spring but this gave us an opportunity to do additional research on
opportunity to do additional research on
opportunity to do additional research on our native species we used this time to
our native species we used this time to
our native species we used this time to learn to identify ants down to the
learn to identify ants down to the
learn to identify ants down to the species level and what characteristics
species level and what characteristics
species level and what characteristics differentiated one from another in some
differentiated one from another in some
differentiated one from another in some cases a mere glance at an ant is all you
cases a mere glance at an ant is all you
cases a mere glance at an ant is all you would need to determine it species black
would need to determine it species black
would need to determine it species black carpenter ants for example were the
carpenter ants for example were the
carpenter ants for example were the largest in the area and very
largest in the area and very
largest in the area and very recognizable other species required the
recognizable other species required the
recognizable other species required the exact number of hairs to be counted on
exact number of hairs to be counted on
exact number of hairs to be counted on particular sections of their bodies
particular sections of their bodies
particular sections of their bodies under intense magnification for example
under intense magnification for example
under intense magnification for example workers from the species chromatic aster
workers from the species chromatic aster
workers from the species chromatic aster sera si have to erect terror on their
sera si have to erect terror on their
sera si have to erect terror on their thoraxes compared to the many erect ears
thoraxes compared to the many erect ears
thoraxes compared to the many erect ears that chromatic aster Linea lada have we
that chromatic aster Linea lada have we
that chromatic aster Linea lada have we developed a process where we first use
developed a process where we first use
developed a process where we first use our camera to identify ants down to the
our camera to identify ants down to the
our camera to identify ants down to the genus level and then a microscope to
genus level and then a microscope to
genus level and then a microscope to identify them down to the species level
identify them down to the species level
identify them down to the species level we use guys described by world-renowned
we use guys described by world-renowned
we use guys described by world-renowned murmur colleges to IO Wilson of Harvard
murmur colleges to IO Wilson of Harvard
murmur colleges to IO Wilson of Harvard to help us distinguish the species
to help us distinguish the species
to help us distinguish the species before we knew it it was spring and time
before we knew it it was spring and time
before we knew it it was spring and time to put our skills to the test we set out
to put our skills to the test we set out
to put our skills to the test we set out what we considered traps for the ants
what we considered traps for the ants
what we considered traps for the ants which really just cookie crumbs on index
which really just cookie crumbs on index
which really just cookie crumbs on index cards scattered around our yard we
cards scattered around our yard we
cards scattered around our yard we observed which ants regularly visited
observed which ants regularly visited
observed which ants regularly visited the traps and spent most of our time
the traps and spent most of our time
the traps and spent most of our time trying to identify them within a couple
trying to identify them within a couple
trying to identify them within a couple of weeks we had already identified 26
of weeks we had already identified 26
of weeks we had already identified 26 species in our yard alone compared to
species in our yard alone compared to
species in our yard alone compared to the three or four we were expecting
the three or four we were expecting
the three or four we were expecting several of these species were very rare
several of these species were very rare
several of these species were very rare and even had little to no professional
and even had little to no professional
and even had little to no professional documentation in Pennsylvania among the
documentation in Pennsylvania among the
documentation in Pennsylvania among the most beautiful answer photographed in
most beautiful answer photographed in
most beautiful answer photographed in our yard was campin oddest in the
our yard was campin oddest in the
our yard was campin oddest in the arcticus
arcticus
arcticus a sophisticated species of carpenter
a sophisticated species of carpenter
a sophisticated species of carpenter ants with advanced nesting habits whose
ants with advanced nesting habits whose
ants with advanced nesting habits whose workers were an iridescent black with
workers were an iridescent black with
workers were an iridescent black with deep shades of blue and violet one day
deep shades of blue and violet one day
deep shades of blue and violet one day in late April my brother and I woke up
in late April my brother and I woke up
in late April my brother and I woke up early to check on some traps we had set
early to check on some traps we had set
early to check on some traps we had set out the night before we found what
out the night before we found what
out the night before we found what looked like a mix between two relatively
looked like a mix between two relatively
looked like a mix between two relatively common species in our yard
common species in our yard
common species in our yard I couldn’t immediately identify it and I
I couldn’t immediately identify it and I
I couldn’t immediately identify it and I was curious as to what it was so I
was curious as to what it was so I
was curious as to what it was so I picked up a worker in a small vial and
picked up a worker in a small vial and
picked up a worker in a small vial and stuck her in the fridge for a few
stuck her in the fridge for a few
stuck her in the fridge for a few minutes to calm her down when I took her
minutes to calm her down when I took her
minutes to calm her down when I took her out I used various keys and guys to try
out I used various keys and guys to try
out I used various keys and guys to try to identify her but I couldn’t seem to
to identify her but I couldn’t seem to
to identify her but I couldn’t seem to figure it out I reached out to one of my
figure it out I reached out to one of my
figure it out I reached out to one of my good friends who’s an expert in the
good friends who’s an expert in the
good friends who’s an expert in the field and sent him some detailed images
field and sent him some detailed images
field and sent him some detailed images of the ant he identified it as a minor
of the ant he identified it as a minor
of the ant he identified it as a minor worker of calabazas mississippiensis a
worker of calabazas mississippiensis a
worker of calabazas mississippiensis a very rare species known as a gatekeeper
very rare species known as a gatekeeper
very rare species known as a gatekeeper and native to Mississippi this species
and native to Mississippi this species
and native to Mississippi this species like many others had two kinds of
like many others had two kinds of
like many others had two kinds of workers miners who lived deep inside the
workers miners who lived deep inside the
workers miners who lived deep inside the nest and helped the Queen tend to eggs
nest and helped the Queen tend to eggs
nest and helped the Queen tend to eggs and larger major workers also known as
and larger major workers also known as
and larger major workers also known as soldiers who were typically in charge of
soldiers who were typically in charge of
soldiers who were typically in charge of capturing prey and protecting the nest
capturing prey and protecting the nest
capturing prey and protecting the nest there was a reason I couldn’t identify
there was a reason I couldn’t identify
there was a reason I couldn’t identify the anti depth it was a minor
the anti depth it was a minor
the anti depth it was a minor although the minor worker I captured was
although the minor worker I captured was
although the minor worker I captured was small and discreet the major workers of
small and discreet the major workers of
small and discreet the major workers of this species were very distinctive not
this species were very distinctive not
this species were very distinctive not only were they larger but their flat
only were they larger but their flat
only were they larger but their flat heads were designed to match the bark of
heads were designed to match the bark of
heads were designed to match the bark of the ash trees that they lived in so they
the ash trees that they lived in so they
the ash trees that they lived in so they could plug up their calling these nest
could plug up their calling these nest
could plug up their calling these nest entrances and act like living armored
entrances and act like living armored
entrances and act like living armored doors now I was little hesitant to draw
doors now I was little hesitant to draw
doors now I was little hesitant to draw any conclusions based off my friends
any conclusions based off my friends
any conclusions based off my friends advice especially considering that the
advice especially considering that the
advice especially considering that the species was supposed to live in the
species was supposed to live in the
species was supposed to live in the south not in Pennsylvania I put this in
south not in Pennsylvania I put this in
south not in Pennsylvania I put this in the back of my mind and we continued to
the back of my mind and we continued to
the back of my mind and we continued to document the rest of the ants in our
document the rest of the ants in our
document the rest of the ants in our yard until early June at which time our
yard until early June at which time our
yard until early June at which time our school year had just ended my brother
school year had just ended my brother
school year had just ended my brother and I came home after our last final
and I came home after our last final
and I came home after our last final exam and something on a tree caught our
exam and something on a tree caught our
exam and something on a tree caught our eye it was a major worker the ants had a
eye it was a major worker the ants had a
eye it was a major worker the ants had a flat reddish head and was undoubtedly a
flat reddish head and was undoubtedly a
flat reddish head and was undoubtedly a gate keeper and this was amazing
gate keeper and this was amazing
gate keeper and this was amazing we learned that gate keeper ant colonies
we learned that gate keeper ant colonies
we learned that gate keeper ant colonies do not produce major workers until
do not produce major workers until
do not produce major workers until they’re over three years old so not only
they’re over three years old so not only
they’re over three years old so not only did the discovery of the major worker
did the discovery of the major worker
did the discovery of the major worker allow us to confirm our identification
allow us to confirm our identification
allow us to confirm our identification it also meant that the species had been
it also meant that the species had been
it also meant that the species had been as
as
as in Pennsylvania from quite some time and
in Pennsylvania from quite some time and
in Pennsylvania from quite some time and went on to suggest that these ants could
went on to suggest that these ants could
went on to suggest that these ants could in fact be native this is one of the
in fact be native this is one of the
in fact be native this is one of the most inspiring experiences in our time
most inspiring experiences in our time
most inspiring experiences in our time researching ants the discovery of this
researching ants the discovery of this
researching ants the discovery of this species in our own front yard changed
species in our own front yard changed
species in our own front yard changed the way we looked at the society events
the way we looked at the society events
the way we looked at the society events over the past summer we had the
over the past summer we had the
over the past summer we had the opportunity to visit California and
opportunity to visit California and
opportunity to visit California and Georgia in the Sierra Nevada mountains
Georgia in the Sierra Nevada mountains
Georgia in the Sierra Nevada mountains we found large armored ants that
we found large armored ants that
we found large armored ants that preferred high altitudes and low oxygen
preferred high altitudes and low oxygen
preferred high altitudes and low oxygen while in Atlanta we found small delicate
while in Atlanta we found small delicate
while in Atlanta we found small delicate ants that enjoyed the humidity and
ants that enjoyed the humidity and
ants that enjoyed the humidity and intense heat of the south and although
intense heat of the south and although
intense heat of the south and although we found these exotic ants fascinating
we found these exotic ants fascinating
we found these exotic ants fascinating when we came home we gained a new level
when we came home we gained a new level
when we came home we gained a new level of respect for our native species as we
of respect for our native species as we
of respect for our native species as we realized how truly beautiful and unique
realized how truly beautiful and unique
realized how truly beautiful and unique they were through our experience we were
they were through our experience we were
they were through our experience we were able to take a step back from our phones
able to take a step back from our phones
able to take a step back from our phones and computers and allowed ourselves to
and computers and allowed ourselves to
and computers and allowed ourselves to become immersed in the wonderful world
become immersed in the wonderful world
become immersed in the wonderful world that we live in we’ve learned a lot
that we live in we’ve learned a lot
that we live in we’ve learned a lot about ants but we’ve learned even more
about ants but we’ve learned even more
about ants but we’ve learned even more about ourselves we learned that a
about ourselves we learned that a
about ourselves we learned that a passion for anything could change your
passion for anything could change your
passion for anything could change your perceptions of wonder and beauty we
perceptions of wonder and beauty we
perceptions of wonder and beauty we learned that there is beauty all around
learned that there is beauty all around
learned that there is beauty all around us if we could just take a moment to
us if we could just take a moment to
us if we could just take a moment to notice it many times we feel that all
notice it many times we feel that all
notice it many times we feel that all inspiring experiences should involve
inspiring experiences should involve
inspiring experiences should involve expensive trips to exotic locations and
expensive trips to exotic locations and
expensive trips to exotic locations and faraway places but all we had to do was
faraway places but all we had to do was
faraway places but all we had to do was step outside the past two years have
step outside the past two years have
step outside the past two years have been tremendously eye-opening for us not
been tremendously eye-opening for us not
been tremendously eye-opening for us not only because we discovered an elegant
only because we discovered an elegant
only because we discovered an elegant sophisticated world outside our front
sophisticated world outside our front
sophisticated world outside our front door but because we took the time to
door but because we took the time to
door but because we took the time to step away from technology and appreciate
step away from technology and appreciate
step away from technology and appreciate the natural beauty around us through our
the natural beauty around us through our
the natural beauty around us through our experiences we’ve cultivated a wealth of
experiences we’ve cultivated a wealth of
experiences we’ve cultivated a wealth of knowledge and gained an extraordinary
knowledge and gained an extraordinary
knowledge and gained an extraordinary set of skills that we would have never
set of skills that we would have never
set of skills that we would have never known about if we had not discovered the
known about if we had not discovered the
known about if we had not discovered the magnificent world of ants we’ve been
magnificent world of ants we’ve been
magnificent world of ants we’ve been able to learn about indigenous species
able to learn about indigenous species
able to learn about indigenous species and how to raise a colony from a single
and how to raise a colony from a single
and how to raise a colony from a single queen and from our work we’ve been
queen and from our work we’ve been
queen and from our work we’ve been fortunate enough to meet renowned
fortunate enough to meet renowned
fortunate enough to meet renowned experts in the field out of our love for
experts in the field out of our love for
experts in the field out of our love for ants we’ve had the opportunity to help
ants we’ve had the opportunity to help
ants we’ve had the opportunity to help others discover this beautiful society
others discover this beautiful society
others discover this beautiful society and have given them the chance to see
and have given them the chance to see
and have given them the chance to see firsthand the incredible opportunities
firsthand the incredible opportunities
firsthand the incredible opportunities that can arise from slowing down to
that can arise from slowing down to
that can arise from slowing down to appreciate the beauty of the natural
appreciate the beauty of the natural
appreciate the beauty of the natural world
world
world and although watching an ant colony can
and although watching an ant colony can
and although watching an ant colony can allow one to immerse themselves in
allow one to immerse themselves in
allow one to immerse themselves in nature there are countless other forms
nature there are countless other forms
nature there are countless other forms of beauty that are readily accessible to
of beauty that are readily accessible to
of beauty that are readily accessible to pretty much everyone in fact beauty can
pretty much everyone in fact beauty can
pretty much everyone in fact beauty can be found everywhere throughout the world
be found everywhere throughout the world
be found everywhere throughout the world to find it we simply need to take a
to find it we simply need to take a
to find it we simply need to take a moment to disconnect from technology and
moment to disconnect from technology and
moment to disconnect from technology and connect with our surroundings if you’ve
connect with our surroundings if you’ve
connect with our surroundings if you’ve ever had a desire to learn more about
ever had a desire to learn more about
ever had a desire to learn more about nature whether it be about a flower in
nature whether it be about a flower in
nature whether it be about a flower in your backyard or bats in the night sky
your backyard or bats in the night sky
your backyard or bats in the night sky we would like to encourage you to take a
we would like to encourage you to take a
we would like to encourage you to take a little time out of your day to explore
little time out of your day to explore
little time out of your day to explore your interest you’ll be astonished by
your interest you’ll be astonished by
your interest you’ll be astonished by what you find thank you
”
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