Re: Ant farms
nellebelle
We set up a little ant farm a couple of years ago. I got the ants from my backyard. I was able to get some larvae too, so we got to watch them develop. The ants didn't live very long though. We did two or three "batches" of ants before we lost interest.
It seems that the moisture level in the farm was very important for the ants. If you can manage to get a queen, I believe it will work better. Then your ants will have a purpose in life :-)
I still enjoy watching ants in my yard. We sometimes feed them tiny bits of popsicle or fruit, or other things that we are eating outside. One time I was watching the ants and feeling like *I* should be learning something (accomplishing something! producing something!), rather than *just* idly watching them. Then I asked myself, why would it be OK for a kid to spend hours observing nature, but not me?
Mary Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
It seems that the moisture level in the farm was very important for the ants. If you can manage to get a queen, I believe it will work better. Then your ants will have a purpose in life :-)
I still enjoy watching ants in my yard. We sometimes feed them tiny bits of popsicle or fruit, or other things that we are eating outside. One time I was watching the ants and feeling like *I* should be learning something (accomplishing something! producing something!), rather than *just* idly watching them. Then I asked myself, why would it be OK for a kid to spend hours observing nature, but not me?
Mary Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Mary
From: "nellebelle" <nellebelle@...>
<<Then I asked myself, why would it be OK for a kid to spend hours observing
nature, but not me?>>
Yesterday when we were all in the pool, I spotted a tiny lady bug floating
to the bottom. I thought it was dead but soon found out it wasn't. Joseph,
Sierra and I watched that little bug for almost 25 minutes trying to dry off
enough to fly away. Just the 3 of us sitting mesmerized by the pool watching
this tiny little thing spread it's wings only to flop around some. Finally
it took off and we all cheered. I think I was happier than the kids!!!!
Mary B
<<Then I asked myself, why would it be OK for a kid to spend hours observing
nature, but not me?>>
Yesterday when we were all in the pool, I spotted a tiny lady bug floating
to the bottom. I thought it was dead but soon found out it wasn't. Joseph,
Sierra and I watched that little bug for almost 25 minutes trying to dry off
enough to fly away. Just the 3 of us sitting mesmerized by the pool watching
this tiny little thing spread it's wings only to flop around some. Finally
it took off and we all cheered. I think I was happier than the kids!!!!
Mary B
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/2/2003 11:20:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
nellebelle@... writes:
I used to do this as a child, but NOW ants are DANGEROUS!
Unfortunately when you kill fire ants, the sweet ants die first! Fire ants
are destroying all the sweet ants. We have no ants in our yard right now. It's a
shame--but it's just not worth the risk.
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nellebelle@... writes:
> We set up a little ant farm a couple of years ago. I got the ants from myWhere do you LIVE????
> backyard. I was able to get some larvae too, so we got to watch them
> develop. The ants didn't live very long though. We did two or three "batches" of
> ants before we lost interest.
>
> It seems that the moisture level in the farm was very important for the
> ants. If you can manage to get a queen, I believe it will work better. Then
> your ants will have a purpose in life :-)
>
> I still enjoy watching ants in my yard. We sometimes feed them tiny bits of
> popsicle or fruit, or other things that we are eating outside. One time I
> was watching the ants and feeling like *I* should be learning something
> (accomplishing something! producing something!), rather than *just* idly watching
> them. Then I asked myself, why would it be OK for a kid to spend hours
> observing nature, but not me?
>
I used to do this as a child, but NOW ants are DANGEROUS!
Unfortunately when you kill fire ants, the sweet ants die first! Fire ants
are destroying all the sweet ants. We have no ants in our yard right now. It's a
shame--but it's just not worth the risk.
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
glad2bmadly
From: "nellebelle" <nellebelle@...>
<<Then I asked myself, why would it be OK for a kid to spend hours observing
nature, but not me?>>
What timing with all this ant farm talk! Just a few hours ago we received the ants we ordered a month ago. We have had this ant farm kit since last summer. We were inspired to finally order the ants when Gillen and Jesse and I spent about twenty minutes one afternoon on our deck watching one ant carry a piece of dead insect- that was bigger than the ant - to its nest in our house wall. It had to crawl across many gaps in the wooden boards and we were cheering it on the whoe way. I have gotten so into watching animals with theboys that I started video taping all of our animal finds several years ago- our own nature video. The I saw "Microcosmos" last week (a movie with amazing close up animal photography) and I have taken a break. It is more fun to just watch live, for now.
The irony of the ants we ordered is that they are fire ants - the same ants that farmer DH is attempting to get rid of at the farm on a daily basis (grits works pretty well). Here I am trying to find the perfect little water dish for them and telling the kids not to jostle them too much in their vial. I'm essentially nurturing the ants! Ants that had been flown across the country to us (free coupon at least) so that I wouldn't have to go risk being bitten by finding them at the farm! Of course, if these die too soon, I'm in trouble.
Madeline
Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
<<Then I asked myself, why would it be OK for a kid to spend hours observing
nature, but not me?>>
What timing with all this ant farm talk! Just a few hours ago we received the ants we ordered a month ago. We have had this ant farm kit since last summer. We were inspired to finally order the ants when Gillen and Jesse and I spent about twenty minutes one afternoon on our deck watching one ant carry a piece of dead insect- that was bigger than the ant - to its nest in our house wall. It had to crawl across many gaps in the wooden boards and we were cheering it on the whoe way. I have gotten so into watching animals with theboys that I started video taping all of our animal finds several years ago- our own nature video. The I saw "Microcosmos" last week (a movie with amazing close up animal photography) and I have taken a break. It is more fun to just watch live, for now.
The irony of the ants we ordered is that they are fire ants - the same ants that farmer DH is attempting to get rid of at the farm on a daily basis (grits works pretty well). Here I am trying to find the perfect little water dish for them and telling the kids not to jostle them too much in their vial. I'm essentially nurturing the ants! Ants that had been flown across the country to us (free coupon at least) so that I wouldn't have to go risk being bitten by finding them at the farm! Of course, if these die too soon, I'm in trouble.
Madeline
Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nellebelle
So do you kill all the ants in your yard? I leave them be unless they try to invade the house. Some of our ants are red and some are black. I don't know if any are fire ants. We often see bird tracks right up to the ant holes.
I have used ammonia to kill the ants. I don't like to use pesticides if I can avoid it.
Mary Ellen
I have used ammonia to kill the ants. I don't like to use pesticides if I can avoid it.
Mary Ellen
----- Original Message ----- but NOW ants are DANGEROUS!
Unfortunately when you kill fire ants, the sweet ants die first! Fire ants
are destroying all the sweet ants. We have no ants in our yard right now. It's a
shame--but it's just not worth the risk.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Mary
From: "glad2bmadly" <glad2bmadly@...>
<<We were inspired to finally order the ants when Gillen and Jesse and I
spent about twenty minutes one afternoon on our deck watching one ant carry
a piece of dead insect- that was bigger than the ant - to its nest in our
house wall. It had to crawl across many gaps in the wooden boards and we
were cheering it on the whoe way>.
This sounds like something I would do too. Today we went to a marine
taxidermy company for a field trip. Then took the kids to see T3. Later we
got out our triops and sea monkey kits. Went to the pet store to replace 2
dead fish and also came home with a ghost shrimp. (just too cute and his
name is Casper) I set up the tanks for the sea monkeys and triops and the
kids started on their owl pellets. Joseph did about 20 minutes and as he's
not a big animal fan, went to watch something that caught his attention on
TV. Joe came into the dining room and there Sierra and I are, blowing mole
fur out of our noses and sorting bones the size of broken toothpicks!!!!!
Joe said "who ever said grown ups can't homeschool????" It gave him an idea
for a T shirt!!
Mary B
<<We were inspired to finally order the ants when Gillen and Jesse and I
spent about twenty minutes one afternoon on our deck watching one ant carry
a piece of dead insect- that was bigger than the ant - to its nest in our
house wall. It had to crawl across many gaps in the wooden boards and we
were cheering it on the whoe way>.
This sounds like something I would do too. Today we went to a marine
taxidermy company for a field trip. Then took the kids to see T3. Later we
got out our triops and sea monkey kits. Went to the pet store to replace 2
dead fish and also came home with a ghost shrimp. (just too cute and his
name is Casper) I set up the tanks for the sea monkeys and triops and the
kids started on their owl pellets. Joseph did about 20 minutes and as he's
not a big animal fan, went to watch something that caught his attention on
TV. Joe came into the dining room and there Sierra and I are, blowing mole
fur out of our noses and sorting bones the size of broken toothpicks!!!!!
Joe said "who ever said grown ups can't homeschool????" It gave him an idea
for a T shirt!!
Mary B
glad2bmadly
******Later we
got out our triops and sea monkey kits. Went to the pet store to replace 2
dead fish and also came home with a ghost shrimp. (just too cute and his
name is Casper) I set up the tanks for the sea monkeys and triops and the
kids started on their owl pellets. Joseph did about 20 minutes and as he's
not a big animal fan, went to watch something that caught his attention on
TV. Joe came into the dining room and there Sierra and I are, blowing mole
fur out of our noses and sorting bones the size of broken toothpicks!!!!!
Mary B*****
O.K., what are triops and owl pellets and whose noses were you blowing mole fur out of? Wow. Is this a creature menagerie from FLA. or from another dimension or have I been too sheltered? Do tell.
BTW, our new ants were very busy in their "farm " last night and have created all kinds of tunnels. They remove one grain of sand at a time, bringing it all the way out of the tunnel and then going back for the next one. Infinite patience.
Madeline
Madeline
n't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
got out our triops and sea monkey kits. Went to the pet store to replace 2
dead fish and also came home with a ghost shrimp. (just too cute and his
name is Casper) I set up the tanks for the sea monkeys and triops and the
kids started on their owl pellets. Joseph did about 20 minutes and as he's
not a big animal fan, went to watch something that caught his attention on
TV. Joe came into the dining room and there Sierra and I are, blowing mole
fur out of our noses and sorting bones the size of broken toothpicks!!!!!
Mary B*****
O.K., what are triops and owl pellets and whose noses were you blowing mole fur out of? Wow. Is this a creature menagerie from FLA. or from another dimension or have I been too sheltered? Do tell.
BTW, our new ants were very busy in their "farm " last night and have created all kinds of tunnels. They remove one grain of sand at a time, bringing it all the way out of the tunnel and then going back for the next one. Infinite patience.
Madeline
Madeline
n't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Mary
From: "glad2bmadly" <glad2bmadly@...>
<<O.K., what are triops and owl pellets and whose noses were you blowing
mole fur out of? Wow. Is this a creature menagerie from FLA. or from
another dimension or have I been too sheltered? Do tell.>>
Glad your ants are doing well. We may have to try them again if you're
having too much fun without us. <BG>
Triops are crustaceans that are supposedly from the prehistoric age. They
kind of look like mini horshoe crabs. You hatch them and keep them very
similar to the sea monkeys. Of course they are cannibals and you end up with
only one in the tank. At least we always have. But the one we end up with is
always quite large and ugly and neat all at the same time. They only live
about 2-3 months.
Owl pellets we sent away for. Not lucky enough to have somewhere to go to
gather them ourselves. Owls don't chew and eat much like a snake. But they
need to dispose of the bones and all somehow. They cough them up, much like
a cat with a fur ball. The result is the owl pellet. We get them from a
company that disinfects them and sends them along with a bone guide.
Joseph possibly had a vole along with mole bones and maybe a rodent too.
Sierra's looked like all mole. The pellet is literally all wrapped up in
fur. Or I guess feathers depending on what the owl ate. Well the fur, once
you pull it apart is very fine and just gets all over you. Reminded me of
when I use to groom and had to shave cats. You know that fine fur that just
seems to get in your nose? You do that whole phoo phoo thing because it
feels like it's all your face!!!
I have the website you can send away for the owl pellets and neat other
stuff too. Let me know if you want it.
Mary B
<<O.K., what are triops and owl pellets and whose noses were you blowing
mole fur out of? Wow. Is this a creature menagerie from FLA. or from
another dimension or have I been too sheltered? Do tell.>>
Glad your ants are doing well. We may have to try them again if you're
having too much fun without us. <BG>
Triops are crustaceans that are supposedly from the prehistoric age. They
kind of look like mini horshoe crabs. You hatch them and keep them very
similar to the sea monkeys. Of course they are cannibals and you end up with
only one in the tank. At least we always have. But the one we end up with is
always quite large and ugly and neat all at the same time. They only live
about 2-3 months.
Owl pellets we sent away for. Not lucky enough to have somewhere to go to
gather them ourselves. Owls don't chew and eat much like a snake. But they
need to dispose of the bones and all somehow. They cough them up, much like
a cat with a fur ball. The result is the owl pellet. We get them from a
company that disinfects them and sends them along with a bone guide.
Joseph possibly had a vole along with mole bones and maybe a rodent too.
Sierra's looked like all mole. The pellet is literally all wrapped up in
fur. Or I guess feathers depending on what the owl ate. Well the fur, once
you pull it apart is very fine and just gets all over you. Reminded me of
when I use to groom and had to shave cats. You know that fine fur that just
seems to get in your nose? You do that whole phoo phoo thing because it
feels like it's all your face!!!
I have the website you can send away for the owl pellets and neat other
stuff too. Let me know if you want it.
Mary B
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/3/2003 11:00:43 AM Central Daylight Time,
mummy124@... writes:
Trevor wanted to save his bones and skulls but I wasn't sure how. I found
some cool Riker display cases and specimen boxes at Acorn Naturalists
(www.acornnaturalists.com)
though and they also sell the owl pellets. Incredibly fascinating catalog for
kids who are into this kind of thing.
Amy Kagey
Email me for a list
of used homeschooling books!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
mummy124@... writes:
> Owl pellets we sent away for. Not lucky enough to have somewhere to go toWe did owl pellets last month here...lots of fun! We had mainly mice in ours.
> gather them ourselves. Owls don't chew and eat much like a snake. But they
> need to dispose of the bones and all somehow. They cough them up, much like
> a cat with a fur ball. The result is the owl pellet. We get them from a
> company that disinfects them and sends them along with a bone guide.
>
>
Trevor wanted to save his bones and skulls but I wasn't sure how. I found
some cool Riker display cases and specimen boxes at Acorn Naturalists
(www.acornnaturalists.com)
though and they also sell the owl pellets. Incredibly fascinating catalog for
kids who are into this kind of thing.
Amy Kagey
Email me for a list
of used homeschooling books!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
nellebelle@... writes:
<< It seems that the moisture level in the farm was very important for the
ants. If you can manage to get a queen, I believe it will work better. Then
your ants will have a purpose in life :-) >>
Thanks Mary Ellen, that's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. Alex
is so excited he wanted to put the sand in and get it all ready for the ants
for when they come, and I said ok, but lets put the water in later, cause we
don't want mold or anything in there.
The little booklet that came with the farm said that sometimes a worker will
"mysteriously" turn into a queen.
<<Then I asked myself, why would it be OK for a kid to spend hours observing
nature, but not me?>>
I found some field guides at the camping store the other day, and was
oohing and ahing over them, and Alex said, it's much more fun to watch
something than read about it. Still want the tree one, tho, because I would love to
recognize more trees in the forest than maple, oak and elm, lol.
~Aimee
<< It seems that the moisture level in the farm was very important for the
ants. If you can manage to get a queen, I believe it will work better. Then
your ants will have a purpose in life :-) >>
Thanks Mary Ellen, that's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. Alex
is so excited he wanted to put the sand in and get it all ready for the ants
for when they come, and I said ok, but lets put the water in later, cause we
don't want mold or anything in there.
The little booklet that came with the farm said that sometimes a worker will
"mysteriously" turn into a queen.
<<Then I asked myself, why would it be OK for a kid to spend hours observing
nature, but not me?>>
I found some field guides at the camping store the other day, and was
oohing and ahing over them, and Alex said, it's much more fun to watch
something than read about it. Still want the tree one, tho, because I would love to
recognize more trees in the forest than maple, oak and elm, lol.
~Aimee
Debi Watson
I would like it! Perhaps it could be posted on the unschool resources one,
too. Debi from Canada, who is always looking for neat other stuff
too. Debi from Canada, who is always looking for neat other stuff
> I have the website you can send away for the owl pellets and neat other
> stuff too. Let me know if you want it.
[email protected]
glad2bmadly@... writes:
<< BTW, our new ants were very busy in their "farm " last night and have
created all kinds of tunnels. They remove one grain of sand at a time, bringing
it all the way out of the tunnel and then going back for the next one.
Infinite patience.
Madeline >>
Ooohh, I can't wait!! I'm as excited as Alex is!!
~Aimee
<< BTW, our new ants were very busy in their "farm " last night and have
created all kinds of tunnels. They remove one grain of sand at a time, bringing
it all the way out of the tunnel and then going back for the next one.
Infinite patience.
Madeline >>
Ooohh, I can't wait!! I'm as excited as Alex is!!
~Aimee
glad2bmadly
Mary <mummy124@...> wrote:
I have the website you can send away for the owl pellets and neat other
stuff too. Let me know if you want it.
Mary B
Yes I would like to have it. I'll get it isn the winter. I think it might satisfy Jesse's paleontologist urges.
Madeline
Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I have the website you can send away for the owl pellets and neat other
stuff too. Let me know if you want it.
Mary B
Yes I would like to have it. I'll get it isn the winter. I think it might satisfy Jesse's paleontologist urges.
Madeline
Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Mary
From: "glad2bmadly" <glad2bmadly@...>
<<Yes I would like to have it. I'll get it isn the winter. I think it might
satisfy Jesse's paleontologist urges.>>
Oooh, I already posted the website. They have cool dino digs too. My kids
just love those.
Mary B
<<Yes I would like to have it. I'll get it isn the winter. I think it might
satisfy Jesse's paleontologist urges.>>
Oooh, I already posted the website. They have cool dino digs too. My kids
just love those.
Mary B
Nora or Devereaux Cannon
If you don't want to take on the care and keeping of a bunch of
ants, there are 2 fun things you can still do. First put a crumb
near - maybe a foot - from an ant hill. Once it is found, put
another a foot further and so on. You can get a big hill
stretched for an amazing distance by putting out new crumbs every
few minutes. It really makes the sheer number of ants in the
hill apparent.
Second, excavating ant tunnels is great fun drawing on the same
skills as archeologists use not to disturb/disrupt the target. A
"summer camp/amateur dig" taught me that a few years ago. I have
been amazed at how fascinating it is to perfect digging skills
this way. Our 6 has managed to get 8 feet before losing the
track. Our daughter in law, who is the long term ant lover,
can't get quite that far yet.
ants, there are 2 fun things you can still do. First put a crumb
near - maybe a foot - from an ant hill. Once it is found, put
another a foot further and so on. You can get a big hill
stretched for an amazing distance by putting out new crumbs every
few minutes. It really makes the sheer number of ants in the
hill apparent.
Second, excavating ant tunnels is great fun drawing on the same
skills as archeologists use not to disturb/disrupt the target. A
"summer camp/amateur dig" taught me that a few years ago. I have
been amazed at how fascinating it is to perfect digging skills
this way. Our 6 has managed to get 8 feet before losing the
track. Our daughter in law, who is the long term ant lover,
can't get quite that far yet.
[email protected]
dcannon@... writes:
<< It really makes the sheer number of ants in the
hill apparent.
bldg, and he said something about wondering how many ants might be in there!
~Aimee
<< It really makes the sheer number of ants in the
hill apparent.
>>Oh, thanks, Alex will love that, he found a hill near the foundation of our
bldg, and he said something about wondering how many ants might be in there!
~Aimee
Christina Morrissey
Apologies for the late input date, but we glued ours on white cardboard in
identifiable groups and then hung them up.
Christina in Seattle
identifiable groups and then hung them up.
Christina in Seattle
><<<<We did owl pellets last month here...lots of fun! We had mainly mice[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>in ours.
>Trevor wanted to save his bones and skulls but I wasn't sure how. >>>>>
The Bucknums
I'm sorry but I just read this and am LMAO. HA! I read the first sentence thinking of ants. He he he. Just incase it gives anyone else a laugh I thought I would share. Teresa in Canada
{{{{Apologies for the late input date, but we glued ours on white cardboard in
identifiable groups and then hung them up.
Christina in Seattle
{{{{Apologies for the late input date, but we glued ours on white cardboard in
identifiable groups and then hung them up.
Christina in Seattle
><<<<We did owl pellets last month here...lots of fun! We had mainly mice[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>in ours.
>Trevor wanted to save his bones and skulls but I wasn't sure how. >>>>>}}}
Deborah Lewis
***Apologies for the late input date, but we glued ours on white
cardboard in
identifiable groups and then hung them up.***
Poor little ants...
Deb L
cardboard in
identifiable groups and then hung them up.***
Poor little ants...
Deb L