Tag

Insectarium

All articles tagged with #insectarium

science-and-nature2 years ago•4 min saved

Ant Invasion: Leaf-Cutter Ants Conquer Manhattan

The American Museum of Natural History in New York City has been home to half a million leaf-cutter ants since December 2022. The ants, harvested in Trinidad and nurtured in Oregon, had to adjust to the cold and dry climate of New York City. Museum employees had to make adjustments to create a suitable environment for the ants, including installing a humidifier and providing a variety of leaves for foraging. Despite the challenges, the colony has thrived and grown, with the ants successfully rebuilding their fungal gardens. The museum continues to make tweaks to the exhibit to ensure the ants' well-being during the winter months.

via The New York Times|

#american-museum-of-natural-history #climate-control #fungal-gardens

science-and-technology2 years ago•4 min saved

Ants Make Surprising Appearances in Unexpected Places.

The American Museum of Natural History has created a new exhibit of half a million leafcutter ants, which took six years to develop. The ants were slow to adjust to their new home, failing to harvest enough leaves to sustain their fungal gardens. The museum designed a sprawling, open exhibit made from lab-tested, “ant-approved” materials, from braided stainless steel to old-fashioned Legos. The team stocked the foraging area with blackberry bramble and filled the surrounding moat with water to help keep the ants contained. The ants have finally completed the entire route and even began winding their way across an elevated maze detour.

via The New York Times|

#agriculture #american-museum-of-natural-history #habitat