Amazing!

[ClickMonkey.com]

Me and my friends are fascinated by ant farms.

Here's one way to start....

1. Buy or build an ant farm. You can buy different types, or just use an empty plastic tennis ball container.

2. Get hold of an ant colony. You can order one, but ordering ants is a goofy process. Your best bet is to put some sugar water in a jar and wait for the ants to arrive.

3. Capture a queen. Queens have a much larger thorax than worker ants, and are often surrounded by larvae. Most colonies won't last more than a couple of months without one. Kidnapping a queen is dirty business -- it generally involves lots of digging and ant bites. Other options include checking under rotting logs and waiting for "nuptial flights" during the spring and summer.

3. Feed your ants. Most ants will eat sugar, honey, or maple syrup mixed with water. You may also want to add powdered multivitamin/mineral tablets into the mix. Small portions of freshly killed insects are another option.

4. Care for your ants. As this ant-rearing how-to explains, ants can go a while without food, but can be wiped out overnight without water. Your ant farm should be damp, and out of the sun.

Anyway, it's great to be here. One buddy thinks there is a lot in common between running an ant farm and running a website.

[Rosalind Gardner]

... and what Queen do you capture for your web site?

Cheers,
Ros