It's terrible

[Wood~Ant]

Is it just me, or does there seem to be an awful lack of interest in ants this year?

Normally by the time we get around to mid-summer, ant enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement and Ant Hill World is very busy with folk posting about the ants they've found, or collected.

This year seems to be lacking something, as even ant sellers are not getting large stocks of ants in; and by now we usually have the place heaving with members telling each other about their ants.

It isn't just here either, as other ant forums appear to have the same.
Are folk loosing interest in ants, or is it only a temporary thing I wonder? I sincerely hope it is the latter, as let's face it, our hobby needs to be kept alive and we all need each others valuable input to keep it so, don't you agree

[Kyle]

I must admit it has seemed to have gone quiet lately, you get the odd post now and then but even they are few and far between, so it could be peoples interest is fading out, but I know mine ain't lol I've just had less time than normal.
Just wait till winter is in sight then you'll get the same odd questions about hibernation lol

[Deleted]

I was away from the forum for a long time due to work reasons.

Maybe people are just busy or forgotten they are on the forum?
Why not send out another reminder E-mail like before!

That E-mail jogged my memory and I'm back ever since.

[formica]

Yeah wood has a point. I would say there are about 10 users who post recently. Sure Tom from somerset dosen't post about his m.scrabonos or wha these are ever.But sure quite a lot of people just join to advertise ants. Ade never visits either and that surprises me as he controls antsectopia.

[Jenny]

Ade from Ansectopia visits most days if you look at the bottom in the weekdays. I could put out another e-mail flyer but it usually only floods the forum for a few days.

This year there doesn't seem to be as many companies selling many formicariums either. Yet around Xmas they flood the market when it is really the wrong time of year for ants (in the UK anyway) People join forums to read, but you cannot force them to post. What they don't realise is, unlike a website which you can just leave, you need participation to survive and keep the interest in the subject going on a forum

So come on guys, find the elusive tank at the bottom of your shed, start reading ant books, take a walk and observe the pavements at the moment. Get involved in the keeping of ants

[formica]

The reason they do this as at christmas people might buy Lasius niger as gifts as from edu-sci you can buy them all year round. When I see a type of ant I want to get I always check to see how many they have. At the minute edu-sci have 54 Lasius niger queens with first workers and they probably have more mated queens with no workers and due to the amount of buisness ant shops get edu-sci this stock may last edu-sci for at least a year!

[Deleted]

I'm extremely enthusiastic about ants, but unfortunately I haven't got anything to contribute @ the moment, I'm back to reading forums and gaining more knowledge on them.

[formica]

I think the people who have posted on this thread are the only ones who post now.