Did you know that it is estimated that there are about 20,000 different species of
ants on Earth? Did you know that ants can lift and carry more than three times their own weight.
Ants are very interesting creatures. Ants are omnivores (eating both meat and vegetable) and are insects. All insects have six legs and three body parts, a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. Ants live in communities called colonies and work together to survive. An ant colony lives in a nest. An ants nest can be in the ground, under a rock, in a tree or in a mound. Some ants farm leaves to make fungus gardens and some ants farm aphids to collect their "honeydew" (watch the video from the BBC below).
ants on Earth? Did you know that ants can lift and carry more than three times their own weight.
Ants are very interesting creatures. Ants are omnivores (eating both meat and vegetable) and are insects. All insects have six legs and three body parts, a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. Ants live in communities called colonies and work together to survive. An ant colony lives in a nest. An ants nest can be in the ground, under a rock, in a tree or in a mound. Some ants farm leaves to make fungus gardens and some ants farm aphids to collect their "honeydew" (watch the video from the BBC below).
Ants have a special way to communicate with chemicals called pheremones. These pheremones help the ants tell each other where there is food, where there is water, and lots more! Ants also communicate by touching each other with their
antennae. There are lots of different types of ants and lots more to learn about them. If you want, you can learn more by going to the Ants Critter Catalog.
Your mission for the week is to Try To Make An Ant Get Lost from National Geographic.
This is a basic study in animal behavior. A scientist that studies animal behavior is called an Ethologist or animal behaviorist. To watch animals, you need to be very patient since you cannot rush them to do what you want. Take some time and watch carefully and you might even see ants carrying eggs or carrying food. You might be able to find its nest. Ants are an important part of the ecosystem and food web. Lots of other animals eat ants including birds, rodents, and other insects.
You may want to take a closer look at an ant with a magnifying glass. Make sure to draw a picture of one of the ants that you observed on your Mission Report.
Don't forget that for each Mission Report that you submit you can earn 5 Brain Power Points and for each mission that you make a comment on to share a discovery, you can earn 1 Brain Power Point. For each 25 Brain Power Points, you will earn a Science Prize! Go to the Mission
antennae. There are lots of different types of ants and lots more to learn about them. If you want, you can learn more by going to the Ants Critter Catalog.
Your mission for the week is to Try To Make An Ant Get Lost from National Geographic.
This is a basic study in animal behavior. A scientist that studies animal behavior is called an Ethologist or animal behaviorist. To watch animals, you need to be very patient since you cannot rush them to do what you want. Take some time and watch carefully and you might even see ants carrying eggs or carrying food. You might be able to find its nest. Ants are an important part of the ecosystem and food web. Lots of other animals eat ants including birds, rodents, and other insects.
You may want to take a closer look at an ant with a magnifying glass. Make sure to draw a picture of one of the ants that you observed on your Mission Report.
Don't forget that for each Mission Report that you submit you can earn 5 Brain Power Points and for each mission that you make a comment on to share a discovery, you can earn 1 Brain Power Point. For each 25 Brain Power Points, you will earn a Science Prize! Go to the Mission