Where to find...

[jeni]

I'm looking for places to visit that have any displays, specifically a formicarium. I have a project ongoing at the moment photographing man made and natural networks for a university project, and an ants nest works very well for a natural network. I live in the Manchester area but I am really struggling to find somewhere I could visit to see and hopefully photograph this. I can travel... I know Chester Zoo have the leaf cutter ants, but their habitat has been created for them. I am looking for something created by ants as otherwise natural versus man made doesn't work.

I am hoping to be able to get advice on ideas of where to go from the users of this forum if at all possible?

[Jenny]

Welcome to the forum Jeni. Most zoo parks have the Attas and nothing else and have been constructed. The nearest wild nests closest to Manchester which are of Formica lugubris (Hairy Wood Ants) which make large mounds from plant material are here on the thread below. If you want natural wild nests you will have to travel and search the woodlands as you won't find various species in a public display. queenant.proboards.com/thread/9875/summer-video-longshaw-wood-ants