Dormouse

This research shows that the role of #animals in shaping #Earth’s landscapes is much more significant that previously recognised.From #beavers creating wetlands to #ants building mounds of soil, these diverse natural processes are crucial, yet we risk losing them as #biodiversity declines.

Nearly 30% of the identified species are rare, endemic, or threatened, meaning vital geomorphic processes could cease before their full significance is understood. #ecosystems

eurekalert.org/news-releases/1

Animals as architects of the earth: first global study reveals their surprising impact

Animals are not just inhabitants of the natural world—they…

EurekAlert!
myrmepropagandist

Their nests are made of the fungi they eat and unlike anything else I know that ants might build.

Does any other creature make a house out of edible fungi? What if you could just eat things from the walls of your house? These ants are so advanced. I thought paper making ants were wild!

#LichenSubscribe #mosstodon #ants #antnest

myrmepropagandist

Important colony update. Here are the soon to be newest members of the colony. #antvideo #ants #camponotus

Ben S

My 6yo is really into ants and I see a formicarium happening in the near future. I have at least 4 species in various parts of my home. Would it be possible to somehow bait a test tube setup and entice a queen to claim one? I think ghost ants might be a good option to have in general. The only nuptial flights I've seen are weavers and tree ants and they both seem difficult.

#ants #Formicarium

Ben S

And now for something different. This is one of the trap-jaw ants. If you know which one, please let me know. Several months ago, we had major rain and wind storms damaging lots of trees. I found this colony under a broken branch that has started settling into the dirt. After snapping a couple of pictures, I gently placed the branch back where it was. It must be quite stressful for them.

#Formicidae #Odontomachus #haematodus #Ants #Insects #SriLanka #Photography #Macro

Ben S

Back on by bullshit about the weavers again... It's not my fault... They are just too interesting.

The weavers were oddly calm today. No defensive posturing or holding their front legs and mandible wide defensively. I don't think I was sprayed with formic acid once. Then I saw this odd scene. Four weavers all biting and pulling a tiny black ant apart. Two of the executioners sat and preened each other as the other two absconded with the corpse.

#Formicidae #Ants #Insects #Photography #Macro

Ben S

My self esteem was getting too high again so I decided to spend my mid-day photographing ants... That always puts it back in its place.

#Photography #Ants #Macro

High Mome Djecibel Aester

@futurebird if you've never read this book. I hope you'll please consider reading it. And if you ever do, please tell me what you think. It's one closest to my heart. #ants #aliens #alienants #giantants #cjcherryh

myrmepropagandist

Here is an excellent high quality and factual *new* video on the evolution of ants from the generically named "Ants Documentary" channel.

I was worried it'd be AI slop, but it's not. although they could do better image and video attribution IMO. But, it's just some ant fan going off so I'm not mad. #antvideos #ants #youTube #Hymenoptera

youtube.com/watch?v=CAo0dqOHnm

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original…

www.youtube.com
Alex Wild

I guess it's ValANTine's day. Love bites, sometimes. #Ants #Insects

myrmepropagandist

The book “Gardening Ants: The Attines” (Weber) is old but it has so many banger illustrations. Here is one showing the size difference in Atta cephalotes minors and majors. This difference is entirely caused by how the ants are fed and cared for. Ants have so much variability in gene expression and they use it to shape their population to fit the work that needs to be done. (I love the naturalistic placement of the minor on the major’s head, they do hang out like this.) #antbooks #diagrams #ants

Feb 13, 2025, 02:44 · · · 11 · 0
DoomsdaysCW

Excerpt from "Gardening for Butterflies and #Pollinators" -- #IowaStateUniversity Cooperative Extension

"Common Pollinators in #Iowa

"Common insect pollinators in Iowa include honey bees [not native, and can compete and overwhelm native bees], #bumblebees, #SolitaryBees, #beetles, #butterflies, #flies, #ants, and #wasps. These insects are not selflessly doing a favor to the flowers. The insects are enticed to do the job with a reward of food. The food is usually nectar (sugar and water) and pollen (protein).

How to Establish a Butterfly or #PollinatorGarden

"Sunny Location

"Locate your garden where it receives the greatest amount of sun exposure possible. Insects such as butterflies and
pollinators are cold-blooded and depend on the sun to warm their bodies. Also, the plants on which butterflies and pollinators depend generally grow better in full sun (six or more hours of sunshine per day).

"Nectar and Pollen Sources

"Different species of butterflies and pollinating insects are active at different times of the year. Therefore
it is important to provide pollen and nectar sources throughout the growing season and offer various flower shapes and sizes. Plant in groups—not rows— to increase the likelihood of butterflies and pollinators finding and choosing your garden for a feeding stop."

Web page:
yardandgarden.extension.iastat

Link to PDF:
store.extension.iastate.edu/Pr
#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForBees #Gardening

Gardening for Butterflies and Pollinators

A butterfly garden can be created as simply as planting…

Yard and Garden
sebastian büttrich

A #butterfly

Blue #Morpho
Morpho peleides

(I think)

Also, it s dead.
#Ants are beginning to visit.

myrmepropagandist

I can’t stop thinking about her! #ants #rareAnt

Martialis heureka— an ant so different from all known ants that they said she was from Mars!

Feb 08, 2025, 18:14 · · · 4 · 1
MidgePhoto

@futurebird @falcennial @AlexanderVI

All advanced species have been eaten by Ants.
Hmm.

@cstross SF author near here wrote a couple of worlds/SF books in which the eventual winners are or are going to be the #eusocial species, of which #ants and suchlike seem to be examples.

Perhaps those winners would not bother to talk to us #mammalian species.

soaproot

@bytebro @futurebird Personally I've just been quietly learning #clamFacts . And now you tell me there's all kinds of things I don't know about #ants either? I didn't expect either one when I made an account here.