Just starting out... always been fascinated by ants (and nature in general), and as a kid had a couple "ant farms." First one like others was the original uncle milton kind that went no where obviously. When I was a teenager, my father worked at a biotech company that searched for natural biological solutions for pest issues in homes such as termites, ants, cockroaches, etc. Knowing my interest in science, they'd send him home with cool stuff for me to play with from time to time. They sent him home one day with a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus colony for me to check out. Pretty simple impromptu lab setup where they used a TV tray and a glass plate over the top cut to size. Lasted a couple months unfortunately as I really didn't know at the time how to take care of them properly (also suspect they may have been used to test one of their means of elimination 
) In recent years as a home owner, living in the woods, routinely have to deal with C. Pennsylvanicus, but this time around more as an invasive pest.
Over the years enjoyed keep fish and kept saltwater reef tanks for many years. Fun hobby, but got too expensive with electrical bills and way too much time having to micromanage it daily due to testing, chemical additives, etc.
Also really into computers, electronics and technology and projects related with them. One of the pieces I'm hoping to do is some automation around whatever formicarium setups I do to monitor temp, humidity, manage lightning, etc.
Been really impatient (like a little kid) this season looking for my first queens (quite a few hopeful posts to the ANT ID subforum.) Had a great weekend hunting with my daughter in the woods for queens/etc, and believe to have found a small starter colony for maybe a C. Americanus (http://www.formicult...sachusetts-usa/)
Already met some nice people on the forum as well, one even offered a connection locally to a couple Prenolepis imparis queens if I could drive down to meet them. Pretty friendly forum so far 
Edited by noebl1, April 18 2016 - 11:39 AM.
