Wow, I was surprised a mound-building catfish wasn't the culprit. Thank goodness that mountain biker was hanging around! #itfeelslikeeverythinginthisforestisworkingagainstme #ahugemound Thanks Miles!
We'd love to upload more regularly! Right now we are doing our best to produce as high of quality of content as we can. As the channel grows, we will be able to dedicate more and more time to providing the videos our fans enjoy. Thanks for the feedback and don't forget to share our content with your friends!
I actually found two queens this season. One of the queens is in diapause with her 30 host workers, right now while the other one is pushing close to 200 workers and enough eggs, larvae, and pupae to double that number again while only being a 5 month old colony. They've been an awesome species to keep, very aggressive, and grows really fast!
Hey Miles, great video. But here in Europe wood ants are everywhere and I repeat literally everywhere. If you’re ever going to come to Europe, I recommend the Alps or the Carpathian Mountains. They’re filled with a lot of wood ants and different interesting creatures.
It's kinda weird to hear word "meters" and "Celsius" in a video from USA Anyway, it surprises me how less dominant are Formica ants in the New World. Seriously, every forest I go to in Poland is filled with Formica mounds with colonies forming long trails (50+m, easily). You just can't miss those ants... unless you're blind, of course. Wait - you WILL notice them biting your legs and spraying the bite marks with acid. Anyway, European species are not kept in captivity. One reason is that in most countries they are protected by law, the other one is that they are hyperaggressive and will spray formic acid on any occasion. They can spray so much of it that they easily kill themselves - if you put one in a test tube, it will turn it into a gas chamber and die within minutes. They were used as sinus cleansing remedy - just put a piece of cloth on the mound for 20 seconds and then inhale through it. It's also interesting to me that Formica is split in same three groups as in Europe - there are Serviformica (black Formica), Formica sensu stricto (thatching ants) and Raptiformica (slavemaking ants).
I agree, I'm French native and in France they're now pretty rare and difficult to find according to other myrmecohobbyists. But in Poland (6 years now here), you literally bump into a specie or another of Wood ants and they do attack even when you're on human trails which they also use as their own (how convenient ;) ). Formica rufa, Formica truncorum, Formica polyctena. Huge interconnected nests and trails.
Fun video. The collection and use of tree sap in the nest is something I had never thought of. Has anyone tried introducing it into their captive colonies?
I have done it with F. aserva. They seem to either bring it in the nest or incorporate it into the nest entrance somehow. Although the sap seems to “disintegrate” or degrade over time. In contrast F. pacifica and non thatching ants dont seem to show much interest.
You put out all this interesting content. You really need too put some money into advertising videos like this on youtube or even a bit on facebook if you have content on there too. I really just recommend advertising/boosting a video like this one that has terrific production value. It will show up on people's feeds and a lot of people who are interested in ants but never thought of looking them up on youtube, will click on your video hungry for knowledge on the little critters. Please try this :]
Thanks for the feedback! Unfortunately, The Ant Network is produced by college students, so our budget for that sort of promotion is limited right now. That's why we rely so much on supporters like you sharing and advocating for our content.
Hi Scott! Thanks for letting me know. I have seen some of them while visiting family, and I look forward to returning to the Oregon coastal region sometime this year. - Miles
Reminds me of something that would go on TV, great quality!
Thank you, Ender! It means a lot to our team to have all this support.
Wow, I was surprised a mound-building catfish wasn't the culprit. Thank goodness that mountain biker was hanging around! #itfeelslikeeverythinginthisforestisworkingagainstme #ahugemound Thanks Miles!
F in the chat for this video not hitting 200M views like it deserves
F
Fantastic! Love it. Well done Miles.
That means a lot, StoneAgeMan!
The Jeremy Wade vibes are real. 10/10 - nice work guys!
Great video as always Miles. The Saint Joe is a great place for Formica!
It sure is! One of my favorite places. - Miles
I want to see you upload more regularly, tutorials, hunts, equipment reviews, etc.
We'd love to upload more regularly! Right now we are doing our best to produce as high of quality of content as we can. As the channel grows, we will be able to dedicate more and more time to providing the videos our fans enjoy. Thanks for the feedback and don't forget to share our content with your friends!
Very professional video, well done
Great video, not sure why your cyclist friend wears a helmet indoors tho! Lol
Just to show people he is a legit rider
Yeah !!! New video !!! Awesome work !! Please keep them coming , love all of your videos and your hard work
i have about 4 mounds in my area of formica ulkei in my forests
I actually found two queens this season. One of the queens is in diapause with her 30 host workers, right now while the other one is pushing close to 200 workers and enough eggs, larvae, and pupae to double that number again while only being a 5 month old colony. They've been an awesome species to keep, very aggressive, and grows really fast!
Great to hear about your success! We'd love to see some pictures of your colonies!
What is the black formica species? Formica Fusca?
I really enjoyed watching this about Ants.
Hey Miles, great video. But here in Europe wood ants are everywhere and I repeat literally everywhere. If you’re ever going to come to Europe, I recommend the Alps or the Carpathian Mountains. They’re filled with a lot of wood ants and different interesting creatures.
Thanks, Dave! I sure hope we can make a trip out there at some point. - Miles
I love ants so dose my friend
It's kinda weird to hear word "meters" and "Celsius" in a video from USA
Anyway, it surprises me how less dominant are Formica ants in the New World. Seriously, every forest I go to in Poland is filled with Formica mounds with colonies forming long trails (50+m, easily). You just can't miss those ants... unless you're blind, of course. Wait - you WILL notice them biting your legs and spraying the bite marks with acid.
Anyway, European species are not kept in captivity. One reason is that in most countries they are protected by law, the other one is that they are hyperaggressive and will spray formic acid on any occasion. They can spray so much of it that they easily kill themselves - if you put one in a test tube, it will turn it into a gas chamber and die within minutes. They were used as sinus cleansing remedy - just put a piece of cloth on the mound for 20 seconds and then inhale through it.
It's also interesting to me that Formica is split in same three groups as in Europe - there are Serviformica (black Formica), Formica sensu stricto (thatching ants) and Raptiformica (slavemaking ants).
Thanks for the feedback and information, tenkowal!
I agree, I'm French native and in France they're now pretty rare and difficult to find according to other myrmecohobbyists. But in Poland (6 years now here), you literally bump into a specie or another of Wood ants and they do attack even when you're on human trails which they also use as their own (how convenient ;) ). Formica rufa, Formica truncorum, Formica polyctena. Huge interconnected nests and trails.
Fun video. The collection and use of tree sap in the nest is something I had never thought of. Has anyone tried introducing it into their captive colonies?
I have done it with F. aserva. They seem to either bring it in the nest or incorporate it into the nest entrance somehow. Although the sap seems to “disintegrate” or degrade over time. In contrast F. pacifica and non thatching ants dont seem to show much interest.
Thanks Miles for the awesome information and quality!
Thank you, Oliver!
You put out all this interesting content. You really need too put some money into advertising videos like this on youtube or even a bit on facebook if you have content on there too.
I really just recommend advertising/boosting a video like this one that has terrific production value. It will show up on people's feeds and a lot of people who are interested in ants but never thought of looking them up on youtube, will click on your video hungry for knowledge on the little critters. Please try this :]
Thanks for the feedback! Unfortunately, The Ant Network is produced by college students, so our budget for that sort of promotion is limited right now. That's why we rely so much on supporters like you sharing and advocating for our content.
Ive found a few of them one day may even find a queen
Miles, I'm sure you know this but Thatching Ant colonies are very prevalent here in Western Oregon. I'd be happy to show you sometime!
Hi Scott! Thanks for letting me know. I have seen some of them while visiting family, and I look forward to returning to the Oregon coastal region sometime this year. - Miles
What is the best way to preserve ant for years in lab??
Nice vid! Amazing quality!
Hhhhhhhhjjjjjj
what TV channel is this on? LOL nice style
Haha, thanks Lez! We are definitely inspired by some television programs. Glad you're enjoying it!
11:14 how do you look into the nest without being eaten or destroying the tunnels?
Secret! ;) We specially engineered some sets to provide us a few of the filming opportunities you see in the video.
You need to go south of idaho
You'll be happy to hear we are currently filming in Arizona!
Great show , I love it. Come visit me