arcfyre
Nurse Ant
Posts: 103
Country: south africa
Pets: ants
Likes: 14
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graveyard
Oct 5, 2014 13:46:26 GMT
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Post by arcfyre on Oct 5, 2014 13:46:26 GMT
Why does some ants make graveyards and some doesn't? I've watched 2 ant dirt setups with the same type of ants...one has a nice graveyard where they drop all the dead..the other one doesn't, its scattered all over the place. Is this a problem? Should I try to gather them all and remove them? What can happen if I don't find some of them?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Oct 5, 2014 14:11:28 GMT
Most ants make a midden to put their rubbish on, usually as far away from the nest as they can get it; but some do pile stuff just outside the nest entrance. Dead ants are of no further use to the colony and often are dumped out with the rest of the rubbish.
Wind will usually blow dead ants and lighter rubbish away, or it rots into the ground. "Ant Graveyards" depend on what genera or species make them, and sometimes even where the nest is sited as to where the midden is also sited in relation to the main trails going to, and from the nest. The colony that is placing all its dead in one area is being clean and tidy, while the other colony clearly isn't too bothered about being tidy.
As long as they keep their nest chambers clear of rubbish and dead ants, then don't worry about where they decide to put the rubbish, as both colonies have made their choice as to which they prefer; and they know best how to keep their home as they like it.
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arcfyre
Nurse Ant
Posts: 103
Country: south africa
Pets: ants
Likes: 14
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Post by arcfyre on Oct 6, 2014 9:14:49 GMT
Cool. Wish I could teach them manners!! Luckily their so small, they blend in to the ground, anybody looking won't see them if they don't about them. I'll take away their selphones for a week to teach them a lesson! (In their case their antennaes) muhahaha. Anyway thanks Wood
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Quah
Ant Photographer
Outstanding Ant Photographer
Posts: 226
Country: Malaysia
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Post by Quah on Oct 29, 2014 5:21:59 GMT
Ants are very diverse not only the various subfamilies, genera and species but their habits and behavior too. Some are very neat and tidy others are messy. The messy ants naturally have a host of commensalistic arthropods co habitating in their nests These co habitating arthropods which may range from mites, millipedes, crickets, coakroaches, beetles, springtails, silverfish, sowbugs, pillbugs and even other much smaller ants. These either live within the nests or in very close proximity. Even as many of these are free loaders and thieves, they basically help these messy ants keep their nests sufficiently tidy of decay and decomposing substances.
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