Ants on baits at the Fort Worth Nature Center, Fort Worth, Texas
In this case, we were using tuna and cookie baits to study the ants.
Sixth graders from Trinity Valley School (Ms. Julie Frey) in Fort Worth, Texas came to the Fort Worth Nature Center to learn about horned lizards and the ants they eat, mostly Pogonomyrmex ants. As part of their time with me, we set up tuna and pecan sandies cookie baits and made observations. At the conclusion, the students collected the ants for identification. I also recorded some video of the ants.
Although we attempted to set this up as a controlled study, this was more a preliminary investigation. The students explored their areas -- limestone ridge, woods, or open prairie -- and tried alternative ways of placing and using the baits. They did a good job of investigating.
I set them up with a data sheet to record location, weather, type of bait (tuna, cookie, or both), time of first arrival to the bait (and what was this), time for first ant arrival, observations (numbers of ants; rate of foraging, interactions, etc.), and how many ants on the baits after 5 minutes.
I did not get the data sheets so I cannot share that part but here is a summary of the ants the students collected and some short clips from the video.
I recommend this kind of exercise for teaching about science method, forming hypotheses, investigating insects and foraging. It is easy to do and can be done anywhere. You can develop all kinds of ideas and possible experiments from this kind of work -- myrmecologists do so all the time.
Results:
Collection Group: Species - Count
1: Solenopsis - 3
2: Crematogaster - 2
3: Crematogaster - 2
Dorymyrmex - 1
Forelius - 18
4: Forelius - 18
5: Crematogaster - 6
Forelius - 16
6: Crematogaster - 1
Solenopsis - 1
7: Forelius - 3
Solenopsis - 1
8: Forelius - 50+
9: Solenopsis - 3
10: Forelius - 89
11: Crematogaster - 4
Forelius - 1
12: Forelius - 2
Video clip #1: "Bug and Ants"
This clip shows many Forelius ants on a tuna bait. An insect, perhaps a bug, lands on the bait and interacts with these ants, then leaves. It looks like the ants may be performing a cleaning service which has been suggested for Forelius ants in some situations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48nHKnf2Ka8&feature=youtu.be
Video clip #2: "Crematogaster Waggle"
This clip shows many Forelius ants on tuna bait. A Crematogaster forager is in the lower right hand side. As this forager leaves the bait, she waggles her gaster indicating that she is dispensing a pheromone.
Here are the two short clips from tuna baits that the Trinity Valley School of Fort Worth, Texas set out at the Fort Worth Nature Center.
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