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How is COVID-19 Affecting You?

Started By AntsDakota , Mar 13 2020 6:49 AM

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219 replies to this topic

#161 Offline gcsnelling - Posted March 24 2020 - 5:53 PM

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I also think it has been running around here a bit longer than has been recognized.


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#162 Offline Martialis - Posted March 24 2020 - 6:05 PM

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I also think it has been running around here a bit longer than has been recognized.

It definitely has been.


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#163 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted March 24 2020 - 6:12 PM

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I have milkweed in my yard, and the aphids on it bring in loads of formica and lasius.

Not to mention monarchs :D

Attaboy! What kind of milkweed?

 

Thanks! I am not sure. It just migrated there.


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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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#164 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 25 2020 - 2:24 AM

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Probably Asclepias syriaca then, aka common milkweed.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#165 Offline TheMicroPlanet - Posted March 25 2020 - 3:34 AM

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Coronavirus and milkweed. This is an interesting conversation.


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#166 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 25 2020 - 4:56 AM

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I always jump at any chance to trumpet my two causes: native plants and denouncing the practice of collecting established colonies from the wild for captivity.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#167 Offline TheMicroPlanet - Posted March 25 2020 - 5:01 AM

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So what would happen if you witness someone digging up a native plant that houses an established colony?


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#168 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 25 2020 - 5:08 AM

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Haha. That would be a double whammy. I base my stance on colonies from the history of unscrupulous collection of native plants from the wild. Both are harmful and unnecessary. We have data on this.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#169 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted March 25 2020 - 5:22 AM

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what native plants do Aphenogaster like? I'm interested in  giving more variety to my backyard (more than the Camponotus and Formica battling it out every year)...


I'm also interested in Aphenogaster


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There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike

#170 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 25 2020 - 7:15 AM

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Bloodroot, Virginia bluebells, trillium, or anything that has ant dispersed seeds with an elaisome attached to it. Elaisomes are these fleshy protein packs attached to entice ants to gather seeds and haul them down into their warm, dark, fertilized nests. It's genius!


Edited by ANTdrew, March 25 2020 - 7:16 AM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#171 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted March 25 2020 - 8:18 AM

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So, i guess i have not been on here long enough to know why you don't encourage the digging out of native colonies?


Is there a scientific reason for that?


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

#172 Offline TheMicroPlanet - Posted March 25 2020 - 8:19 AM

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I think it has something to do with conservation and the local ecosystem.


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#173 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted March 25 2020 - 9:04 AM

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Bloodroot, Virginia bluebells, trillium, or anything that has ant dispersed seeds with an elaisome attached to it. Elaisomes are these fleshy protein packs attached to entice ants to gather seeds and haul them down into their warm, dark, fertilized nests. It's genius!

I'll have to tell my dad some Ant Plants! He'll finally have something to do with the backyard and we won't have to venture so far! (I didn't mean for it to rhyme, but it works).


There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike

#174 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 25 2020 - 9:05 AM

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It’s not a popular opinion on here, but I’m not out to toast anyone’s marshmallows. Wild collection of things like parrots and orchids has proven to be very detrimental to local populations. Granted, ants are far less popular, but I still think people should think twice before digging up one of the tiny fraction of successful colonies. You are removing one of the few “all star” queens that actually made it from the gene pool. I have friends on here that I respect who disagree with me on this, but I still want our community to reflect on what is the best thing long term for the creatures and ecosystems we love.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#175 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted March 25 2020 - 9:05 AM

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Do you think you can PM me some native plants that would encourage ants to take root in my backyard? 


There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike

#176 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 25 2020 - 9:17 AM

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Do you think you can PM me some native plants that would encourage ants to take root in my backyard?

I’m on it!
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#177 Offline FSTP - Posted March 25 2020 - 9:59 AM

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How is COVID-19 Affecting You?

 

 

 

NaTivE pLaNTs !


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#178 Offline TheMicroPlanet - Posted March 25 2020 - 5:14 PM

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Maybe native plants are the solution to the pandemic!


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#179 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 25 2020 - 5:35 PM

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Probably not, but they are the answer to the pandemic loss of biodiversity on our planet.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#180 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted March 25 2020 - 5:51 PM

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yes


There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike

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