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[Izzy]

Not long before going into hibernation my Crematogaster emeryana colony did something to the vinyl tubing leading into their nest that I thought was pretty cool. I know it's common for ants to pile up sand around the openings of their nest to make it more narrow, but I haven't seen any other species I have architect something quite like this. They've essentially created a thin wall of very fine sand at the entrances. I think I'm just amazed they've been able to get it to hold together so well. It took them about a year and a half in captivity before they finally decided to do this.

 

This is a bigger entrance that is 1/2 inch vinyl tubing leading from the side of the mini hearth into an outworld.

 

This is another smaller entrance at the top of the mini hearth.

 

I just found it cool and thought I'd share.

[ANTdrew]

A few years ago, I made test tube covers by sawing some bamboo in half. I put the bamboo over one of my Crematogaster's test tubes, and they shaved off the bamboo and made a carton wall sealing off one end of the bamboo. Their saliva must be very glue like. Such clever little things.