Massive Red Tropical Fire Ant Colony Living in Omni Nests (Update Video Jan 5/14)

AntsCanada
4 Jan 201425:27

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the host from AntsCanada showcases the rapid growth of his red tropical fire ant colony, native to the Philippines. He details the expansion with the addition of Omni nests, a new formicarium series from his store. The ants' preference for these nests and the efficient space utilization in his kitchen setup are highlighted. The host also discusses the ants' diet, the production of alates, and the strategic use of tubing for a network that mimics their natural environment. He concludes by emphasizing the value of ant keeping for observation and discovery, referencing the Ultimate Ant Keeping Handbook available on his website.

Takeaways

  • 🐜 The video is about an ant colony, specifically the red tropical fire ant, which has rapidly expanded in population.
  • đŸŒ± The colony is housed in a series of 'Omni nests', a new product from Ants Canada, which the ants quickly adapt to and fill up.
  • 🏠 The setup includes a network of tubes and multiple levels to maximize space efficiency, as the colony grows and requires more space.
  • đŸ‘©â€đŸ”Ź The narrator provides ample resources for the ants, including water, food, and space, which is crucial for their thriving colony.
  • 👑 The colony has started to produce alates, indicating a successful and mature colony with potential for reproduction.
  • 🌐 The video describes the strategic use of tubing to create a network for the ants, which mimics their natural behavior in the wild.
  • 📩 The narrator discusses the use of different sizes of tubing for flexibility in setup adjustments and the techniques for connecting them.
  • đŸœïž The ants are fed a diet of rice, seeds, chocolate, and fruits, showing their diverse dietary preferences.
  • đŸ§Ș An extra-large test tube is used as a water source, demonstrating creative solutions for the colony's hydration needs.
  • đŸ•Šïž The video suggests a potential plan for managing the ants' nuptial flight by connecting a long tube to an outdoor world.
  • 📚 The narrator promotes an ebook, 'The Ultimate Ant Keeping Handbook', as a comprehensive resource for ant keeping enthusiasts.

Q & A

  • What is the common name of the ant species discussed in the video?

    -The common name of the ant species discussed is the 'Sullen Obsessed Geminate', also known as the 'Red Tropical Fire Ant'.

  • Where is the Red Tropical Fire Ant native to?

    -The Red Tropical Fire Ant is native to Manila, Philippines, and other tropical countries.

  • What has the ant colony experienced in terms of population growth?

    -The ant colony has experienced a significant increase in population, to the point where it has required the addition of several more units.

  • What is the latest series of formic area released by Ants Canada?

    -The latest series of formic area released by Ants Canada is the 'Omni Nests'.

  • How does the ant colony react to the addition of new Omni nests?

    -The ant colony reacts positively to the addition of new Omni nests, moving in almost immediately.

  • What are the sizes of the Omni nests mentioned in the video?

    -The sizes of the Omni nests mentioned are large, small, and extra large.

  • What is the current status of the ant colony's expansion?

    -The ant colony is expanding rapidly, with the extra-large Omni nest and other units being filled with ants.

  • What kind of food does the ant colony consume?

    -The ant colony consumes a diet that includes insects, protein, sugars, rice, seeds, chocolate, and fruits.

  • How many super worms does the colony eat every 24 hours?

    -The colony eats 15 super worms every 24 hours.

  • What is the purpose of the network of tubing in the ant colony setup?

    -The network of tubing serves to connect different parts of the colony setup, allowing ants to travel between satellite nests, food sources, and other areas efficiently.

  • What are the two sizes of tubing used in the ant colony setup and why are they used?

    -The two sizes of tubing used are larger and smaller diameters. They are used to create a strategic network that allows for easier rearrangement and connection of different parts of the colony setup.

  • What is the significance of the 'T-tube' and 'Tee-tube' techniques mentioned in the video?

    -The 'T-tube' and 'Tee-tube' techniques are used to create intersections and choices in the tubing network, allowing ants to navigate through different paths and directions.

  • What does the speaker suggest doing when the ants decide to have their nuptial flight indoors?

    -The speaker suggests connecting a very long tube from the formic area to the outworld, carrying the outworld outside, and having the ants fly outside while connected by the tube.

  • What is the role of the 'Ant Keeping Handbook' mentioned in the video?

    -The 'Ant Keeping Handbook' is an e-book that provides comprehensive information on ant keeping, including care for specific species and general ant care practices.

  • What are the advantages of keeping ants in captivity according to the speaker?

    -The advantages of keeping ants in captivity include the ability to observe their behaviors, nest arrangements, and social interactions closely, which can lead to new discoveries and a deeper understanding of their lives.

Outlines

00:00

🐜 Rapid Growth of Red Tropical Fire Ant Colony

The video script introduces a thriving red tropical fire ant colony native to Manila, Philippines, which has significantly expanded in population. The narrator, Ends Canada, discusses the use of Omni nests, a new formicarium design, which the ants quickly adapt to. The colony now consists of multiple units, including a large Omni nest, a small one, and an extra-large size, all filled with ants. The ants are well-fed with insects, proteins, sugars, and water, and have begun to produce alates, indicating a healthy and growing colony. The setup also includes a network of tubing to maximize space efficiency, as the narrator had to rearrange due to a visit from his mother.

05:03

🌐 Creating an Efficient Ant Colony Network

The script details the construction of a network of tubing that connects various Omni nests and outworlds, allowing for efficient space usage and mimicking the ants' natural behavior of traveling between nests. The narrator describes how the main tube system leads to different nests and outworlds, including the original nest suspected to house the queen. The setup accommodates the ants' preference for less steep inclines and includes a connecting chamber used for storage of food like seeds and rice. The ants' food consumption, particularly super worms, is highlighted, along with the observation of ants' behavior within the tubes, which is described as fascinating and hypnotic.

10:05

🚰 Innovative Water and Waste Management in Ant Colonies

The narrator discusses the colony's water consumption and the use of a large test tube to provide water, which the ants deplete weekly. The outworld is described, including the ants' behavior of burying large prey and creating a garbage pile. The ants' trail formation and the presence of male and female alates are also mentioned, with the workers' interaction with the alates being observed. The strategic use of tubing in the setup is highlighted, with two sizes of tubing used for flexibility in rearrangement and the use of t-junctions and tee connections to facilitate ant movement.

15:07

📚 Resources for Aspiring Ant Keepers

The script provides information for those interested in ant keeping, including the availability of Omni nests and an ant-keeping handbook at AntsCanada.com. The handbook is praised for its comprehensive knowledge on ant care, including specific species care for North America, Europe, and some tropical species. The narrator emphasizes the importance of providing ants with the necessary resources for a successful captive environment and the value of observation in learning about ants' behavior.

20:09

🌟 The Value of Ant Keeping for Observation and Discovery

The final paragraph emphasizes the rewards of ant keeping, both for personal enjoyment and for scientific discovery. The narrator disagrees with the notion that ants do not thrive in captivity, arguing that with proper care and resources, they can flourish. The script mentions the unique observational opportunities provided by ant keeping, such as witnessing the organization within the colony and the behavior of ants in a controlled environment. The narrator also highlights the role of ant keepers in making new discoveries about ants, as exemplified by the documentation of a parasitic fly's life cycle within a queen ant.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ant Colony

An ant colony refers to a group of ants living together and typically consisting of a queen, male ants, and worker ants. In the video, the ant colony is the central focus, with the narrator discussing its rapid growth and the various units or 'nests' that have been added to accommodate it. The script mentions how the colony has 'exploded in terms of population,' indicating the importance of understanding ant colony dynamics for the video's theme.

💡Omni Nests

Omni Nests are a type of artificial ant habitat introduced in the script as a product from the store 'Ants Canada.' They are designed to be part of a network of formicariums, which is a setup that simulates the natural environment of ants. The script describes how the ants quickly move into these new nests, emphasizing the Omni Nests' significance in the expansion of the ant colony.

💡Formicarium

A formicarium is an artificial ant habitat designed to mimic the natural environment of ants, allowing them to live and thrive in captivity. The script discusses the transition of the ant colony from a homemade formicarium to the Omni Nests, highlighting the evolution of the colony's living conditions.

💡Queen Elites

Queen elites are potential future queens in an ant colony. The script mentions the production of queen elites, indicating the colony's health and potential for future growth. The presence of queen elites is a sign of a successful and thriving ant colony, as they are crucial for the continuation of the colony's lineage.

💡Nuptial Flight

Nuptial flight is the reproductive process where winged ants, including queens and males, leave the nest to mate. The script discusses the possibility of the ants' nuptial flight occurring indoors, which is a significant event in the ant colony's life cycle and a point of interest for the video's theme of ant keeping.

💡Outworld

An outworld in the context of ant keeping is an external area connected to the main ant habitat, providing additional space for the ants to forage and interact. The script describes an 'outworld' where ants feed on super worms and create a 'garbage pile,' showing how outworlds are integral to the ants' behavior and colony management.

💡Formic Area

Formic Area is mentioned as the brand or company responsible for the products used in the ant colony setup. The script refers to the Formic Area as the source of the Omni Nests and other products, indicating the importance of specialized equipment in ant keeping.

💡Tubing

Tubing in the script refers to the flexible material used to connect different parts of the ant habitat, allowing ants to move between nests and outworlds. The narrator describes creating a 'network of tubing' to maximize space efficiency, demonstrating the role of tubing in the structural design of the ant colony setup.

💡Egg Rooms

Egg rooms are specific areas within an ant colony where the queen lays eggs. The script alludes to the ants' ability to organize their nest into different functional areas, including egg rooms, which is a key aspect of the ants' social structure and behavior.

💡Ant Keeping

Ant keeping is the hobby of maintaining ant colonies in captivity. The script discusses various aspects of ant keeping, such as providing resources, managing space, and observing behavior. The theme of the video revolves around the rewarding experience of ant keeping and the insights it provides into ant behavior.

💡Super Worms

Super Worms, also known as Zophobas morio, are a type of large, flightless beetle larvae that are often used as food for captive reptiles and amphibians, but in the script, they are mentioned as a significant part of the ants' diet. The ants' consumption of '15 super worms every 24 hours' illustrates the scale of food requirements for a thriving ant colony.

Highlights

Introduction to the ant colony, Sullen's Obsessed Geminate, native to Manila Philippines and other tropical countries.

The rapid growth of the ant colony, requiring additional units to accommodate the expanding population.

Use of the Omni nest series, a new formicarium design, which the ants quickly adapt to and fill up.

Description of the large Omni nest, the original nest, and its subsequent expansion with additional nests.

The ants' response to the new nesting units, moving in almost immediately after being added.

The colony's thriving conditions, provided with ample water, food, and space to grow.

Production of alates, indicating the colony's health and maturity.

The addition of new sections to the colony setup, including more Omni nests for the growing population.

The efficiency of the new setup, maximizing space with a network of tubing and multiple levels.

The strategic use of tubing to create a network for the ants, mimicking their natural environment.

The colony's consumption of super worms, highlighting their high food demands.

The ants' behavior of burying large prey items, a natural instinct observed in the setup.

The use of different tubing sizes for flexibility in rearranging the ant colony setup.

Techniques for connecting tubing, such as T-tube and tee-tube configurations.

The importance of providing a captive environment that meets the ants' specific needs for successful ant keeping.

Observational opportunities provided by ant keeping, allowing for the study of ants' behaviors in a controlled setting.

The value of ant keeping for scientific discovery and understanding of ant behaviors.

The speaker's perspective on the advantages of ant keeping for observation and learning.

Transcripts

play00:00

what's up guys ends Canada here welcome

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to the ant's Canada and channel and

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here's another and video of my current

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colony which is a sullen obsessed

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geminate our colony common name red

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tropical fire ant and it's its native

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here to Manila Philippines as well as

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other tropical countries and if you guys

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have been following my videos lately

play00:26

you'll see that this colony has really

play00:29

really exploded in terms of population

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it's just really large I've had to add

play00:34

several more units you know as the

play00:37

colony grew and this set up here in

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particular is a network of omni nests

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which is our latest series of formic

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area which we just recently released at

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the store a tense canada calm and it I

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mean the colony loves the Omni nests and

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as soon as I add a new only nest the

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colony starts to move in almost

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immediately which is great

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so in this setup here we have the large

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Omni nest which you can see here this

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was the original nest the entire colony

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actually was moved from a homemade forma

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karyam of a friend of mine and it was

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moved into this large only nest and they

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didn't even fill this large only nest

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but now it's grown completely you know

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we had to add next a only nest small

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which is right here which is also full

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of ants the large assault is full of

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ants and also we had to add a third unit

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which is the Omni nest extra large size

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extra large here you can see it and that

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also is pretty much full of ants and

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it's pretty amazing really how fast this

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colony is expanding I've been giving

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them tons of water tons of food lots of

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insects and protein to grow sugars all

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of that on providing them everything

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they need to

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to thrive and flourish and they just

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have kept growing and they've they're

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even starting to produce a late right

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now which is great so I've got several

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Queen elites and millilitres rolling

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around and the recent addition are two

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more on the nests this here is a section

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that I recently added to the entire

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colony set up here of course is a large

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Omni nest right here you can see the

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ants are starting to inhabit some of the

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rooms starting to slowly make it their

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own

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and as well we have a small Omni nest

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right here and same goes for this form

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aquarium they're starting to explore the

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inside and in a few days the ants should

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be moving in to these spaces and

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occupying all of this new living space

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fresh living space I'm sure they're

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really excited to start moving the

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colony in now the thing I love about

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this new setup is it's a lot more space

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efficient you know I had three form

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aquariums three only nests all attached

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to two outworlds and the connecting

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chamber all in one it was starting to

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take up a lot of space and knowing that

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I had to add two more only nests to the

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mix I know I had to kind of make

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rearrangements to the spacing and where

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to put some of the attachments so what I

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did was I had to create a network of

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tubing and also multiple levels to

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maximize in terms of the space that I'm

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using because this is a kitchen table I

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keep my ants here in the kitchen because

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it's the only room in my entire condo

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that isn't air-conditioned or at least

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that I can keep the same temperature as

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it is outside so I decided to keep them

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here in my kitchen and with my mom

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coming from Canada to visit me now

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I had I was forced to really make

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rearrangements so I could have some more

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table space so what I've done here is

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I've created a network of tubing up to

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like the Omni nests together and it

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looks really complicated but it's

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actually not

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these two new only nests are test by way

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of a tube which attaches to another tube

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which attaches to the main tube which

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leads to this Omni nest you see that and

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it also leads to the what should I say

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it leads to the this up world now as

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well the main tube also goes to let's

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see if I can trace this here um it

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detaches here it disconnects over here

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and then leads to um this connecting box

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here you see that the main tube leads to

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down out into the overall but also this

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tube here leads into this connecting

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tube which leads to this connecting tube

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and ultimately leads to this form

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carrying this only nest which is the

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main very first on the nest and I

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suspect the queen is in here I haven't

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really checked but I feel like the queen

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is in this for my care you hear now if

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you look to the bottom you'll see that I

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have the extra-large omni nest here um

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full of ants and it's connected by way

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of a tube over here to the out world the

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very first out world now as you can see

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I've got on the tube running from this

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up world it runs up this way and into

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the main tube which connects to the

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other only nests I've tried to make the

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incline not so steep because this

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species um has problems climbing very

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very steep tubes for some reason I guess

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these tubes are quite slippery for them

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so I try to make their path winding and

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slowly inclining as much as possible

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species in the wild they form long long

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lines um you know I've seen this species

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emerge from a hole from one side of the

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room and then form a line which leads

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out of that room into another room down

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a hallway you know so I feel actually

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this network of tubing for this species

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anyways is a kind of it kind of puts the

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colony in their element you know as they

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travel from a satellite nest to

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satellite nest or from their food to the

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nest etc so the ants seem really in

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their element in this big network of

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tubing as you can see here the ants have

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used the connecting chamber over there

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as a storage for seeds rice I feed this

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colony a lot of rice and seeds as well

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as chocolate surprisingly and fruits

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they really like grains and fruits and

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candy if you look carefully you can see

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elates there I see a male elate I see

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two male elites right there um I'm not

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sure what's going to happen when they

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decide to fly usually um in Canada I

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found that the elites don't end up

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flying indoors because well they lack a

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lot of the outdoor cues which you know q

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colonies to fly and they could be

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anything between I don't know humidity

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air pressure hormone pheromones carried

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by the wind you know that sort of thing

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but here in the Philippines these ants I

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suspect will are able to fly indoors

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because this species in particular

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happens to also be an indoor pest so

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what am I going to do when they decide

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to have their nuptial flight well if I

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notice that they are starting to fly

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what I might do is I probably might

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connect a very long long tube from the

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formic area to the out world

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and I'll just basically carry the out

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world outside and have them fly outside

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and just have them connected by the tube

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here's another look at the tubing you

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know I really love watching them travel

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through the tubes there's just something

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really cool about it they kind of act

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like a fluid I feel like I'm looking at

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some kind of fluid um you know flowing

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through the tubes it's really really

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fascinating and kind of hypnotic

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actually um I also love watching them

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carry pieces of seeds and you know

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insects through the tubes and you know

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dumping them in the chamber or bringing

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them to the Omni nests it's just really

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really awesome and again very hypnotic

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actually you can see the out world here

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there are tons of ants they're all that

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dark stuff those aren't dead ends those

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are ants that are feeding on super worms

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this colony now eats 15 super worms

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every 24 hours so I've got to always buy

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you know 300 super worms at a time uh

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when I go visit the pet supply store

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that I buy the super worms at they

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really have voracious appetites and

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their demands for food are pretty

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incredible and if you look carefully I

play10:07

also have a very very large test tube

play10:09

there which I bought at a laboratory

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supply store a science supply shop and

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the test tube is actually quite large

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it's I would say I don't know under just

play10:23

under a foot long and what I do is I

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create a test tube set up like stuff a

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bunch of cotton to trap a chamber of

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water and that's how they drink they

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just finish that in a week so the colony

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drinks a lot of water here's a closer

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look at the out world um you'll see that

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they've created sort of a garbage pile

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here to the left side and you can see

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they're piling up some remains of

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insects there I mean that whole mass

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over there is

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I'm actually a super worm that they've

play11:00

buried if you've watched our previous

play11:04

video on what ends do when they find

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food you'll know that they bury large

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prey items that they can't readily take

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back to the nest they just bury them

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while they break them down and that

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could be to protect their new booty or

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you know help absorb some of the

play11:24

moisture and mucus that the super worms

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produce you know as they're being killed

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there are several possibilities as to

play11:32

why they do that but but that's what

play11:36

they do so you can see the highway of

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ants there's a definite trail going on

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there and it starts from way back there

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on the other side of the ant nest on the

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other side of the out world and I'll

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show you that later I mean they seem to

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follow the same path now if you look

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carefully you can see see there's a male

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elite there and another male away the

play12:00

other end seem to UM take care of the

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male elites and the female elites I see

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worker ants always I'm standing by the

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elate I'm not sure if they're protecting

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them or trying to nudge them to guide

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them you know to different sections of

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the nest not too sure now this Outworld

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is attached to another Outworld here

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which was there was basically their old

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Outworld and I'm trying to eventually

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separate this out world so I could clean

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it if you look over here you can see

play12:37

that there is a graveyard they have the

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graveyard in this out world and it's due

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for cleaning very soon all right as you

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can see here this um extra large on the

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nest is attached to the out world by way

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of a tube again and this tube is

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connected to that too by way of a stick

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so that the ants can travel back and

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forth um easily and in the middle there

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there's a little bottle cap that I have

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there full of seeds and I always keep

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that full of seeds so that

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we can collect and and feed on them

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bring them back to the colony now here's

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a closer look at the large Omni nest the

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original large only nest let's call it

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the mother nest the original mother nest

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I have it elevated on I guess this what

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it is is a simple kitchen item which

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came with my microwave

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actually it's for placing food you know

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on top while you heat things in the

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microwave etc so I've just used it to

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elevate this only nest um over the

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extra-large only nest at the bottom so I

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can view both at the same time while

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making use of the space now one of the

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things I wanted to point out with

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regards to this setup here is the use of

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tubing the strategic use of tubing I

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should say if you look closely you'll

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see that I use two sizes of tubing I use

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a larger tubing like this here and here

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and then I use a smaller tubing like

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that um you can purchase this tubing at

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any hardware shop um you know your local

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hardware store should carry them in

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rolls and if you live in Canada you can

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purchase it at Canadian Tire for example

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and it's fairly affordable now the

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reason why it's useful to use two sizes

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of tubing is because in case you want to

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rearrange later on it makes it it just

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makes it easier like let's say I just

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wanted to remove this form aquarium from

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the set up well I could just do so by

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removing this and then connecting it to

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another tube or or even just plugging

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that that tube I find it's a lot easier

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than say just using one single tube to

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connect two units together as well

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because of the natural curve of the tube

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when you buy it it's usually in a roll

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so it has this natural curve you

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can choose to change the curve instead

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of it having to be shaped like a see all

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the time you can have it shaped like an

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S etc so you can actually change the

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shape of the path of you know the curves

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of the tubes so that also helps when you

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have double sight double sizes of tubing

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now two techniques I wanted to point out

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there's the t tube like this and all I

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did was basically bore two holes in the

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larger tubing and then two smaller holes

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in the smaller tubing and then I just

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fit the smaller tubing into the larger

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holes of the larger tubing and so it

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causes a cross but also allows the ants

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to choose you know where of the four

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directions to go and I find that very

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helpful and I didn't need this tape here

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but I wanted to edit anyways just in

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case you know I I didn't want my house

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help or friends to you just knock it you

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know and or accidentally touch it and

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then have you know an opening and have

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an ant escape everywhere so I just

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reinforced it with tape um but if you do

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it properly you usually don't need tape

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another technique here is the tea tube

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and that basically that's easy all I do

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is bore one hole into the large tubing

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and then stick the smaller tubing into

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that hole and actually with the smaller

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tubing if it also helps if you cut both

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ends both corners I guess yeah both ends

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of the tube so that it forms to kind of

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like ears you know and if you were to

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turn it this way it would be shaped like

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that um that just allows the ends easier

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access in case they don't want to go

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into this tube they can just continue to

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pass through the normal tube um and

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you'll see what I mean when you create

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that and again I've put tape there

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because I don't want friends or my house

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help to accidentally touch that and then

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have ants escape everywhere now if you

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take

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look here you'll see that I have a tube

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that leads to a dead end I like to do

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that just in case I need to and I'm sure

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I will need to attach this to something

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else to another up world or perhaps to

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another network of Omni nests or

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whatever I just have this here as an

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option and I've placed a plug to make

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sure they they don't escape there but

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I'm sure I will be needing this extra

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tube in the future so I have I have that

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I also make extra openings like this in

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my out worlds and I plug it you know for

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when I will need it and there you have a

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guy's a current update on the setup of

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my ant colony you know it's been amazing

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how quickly this colony has grown I've

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done my best to provide them all the

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resources they need to grow which

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includes space on water food you know

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removal of garbage etc and and yeah it's

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just it's really fascinating watching

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this colony develop and now with a lot

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of elates um you know developing in the

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colony I think this colony is is pretty

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successful I would say for those of you

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who are looking for formic area be sure

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to visit and Canada com we have tons of

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stuff for you guys um including the only

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nests that you see here and we even have

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the ultimate and keeping handbook which

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is very very useful I urge you guys to

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purchase that ebook you basically make

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the purchase and then it leads you to a

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page where you can download it to your

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computer or your mobile and you can just

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read it directly from the PDF file it's

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a book on everything regarding and

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keeping and it has all pretty much

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everything I know and the knowledge that

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has been collected over time that you

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know and keepers know regarding the care

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of ants

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and keeping ants healthy and it even has

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a section in the end of the book which

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breaks down the specific care of

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specific species the most commonly kept

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species both in North America and in

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Europe and and even some tropical

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species so be sure to get that ebook if

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you do want to get into and keeping it's

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definitely a scenic one on four and

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keeping so thanks guys for watching my

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videos and please subscribe and share

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this video if you have any questions at

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all don't be afraid to ask me you can

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join our Facebook page it's facebook.com

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slash ants Canada I'm there all the time

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posting and answer people's questions

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and I also have an Instagram and you can

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follow me at at Aunt Canada and I have a

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ant keeper tip of the day thing going

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there where I basically upload a

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photograph and a piece of information

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that's useful for and keeping to help

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you guys get big fruitful colonies

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because that's that's what we want you

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know I find and keeping is very

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rewarding as long as you provide them

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what they need because you know as very

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the very famous Alex Wilde a biologist

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and photographer recently said on his

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blog ants are wild animals so um you

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know they have very specific needs and

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often quite often they don't succeed in

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captivity if you don't give them the

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requirements that they need in a captive

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setting and I partially agree with that

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but if you provide them all that they

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need all resources space you know if you

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clean up their mess and you just

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generally provide and care for them they

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do really well now I have heard several

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biologists and friends of mine actually

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mention that they do prefer to watch ads

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in the wild but as someone who has been

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keeping ants for several years now I can

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say that there is value to keeping ants

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in a captive setting because it really

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offers amazing observational

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opportunities you know I mean look at

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that you can see ants within their nest

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living and in their lives you know

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living in their nest and you know with

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with their colony activities and you get

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to see where they plan and place certain

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things you know like they're their

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larvae rooms their egg rooms you get to

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see where the elates gather you get to

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see the patterns in which they move

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where they place garbage and that's

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something you can't exactly see quite

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readily in the wild you know so that I

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say is I'm quite valuable you know a lot

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of what we're learning today about ants

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comes from the end keeping community you

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know it's it's us that keep these ants

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that make certain discoveries people

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might be surprised that we actually

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don't know a lot about ants and if in

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keeping ants in a captive setting like

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this informant area where we can observe

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them and observe their ways and we have

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direct access to their lives essentially

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that's that's great observation

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opportunity you know whereas in the wild

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you would have to dig up a colony and

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then you're disturbing them so you kind

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of interrupt their lives and you know

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observing them in the wild is great it's

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definitely natural but there are

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advantages in keeping ants in captivity

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and observing their lives in a captive

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setting you know I once documented on

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this channel the fly that lays its egg

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into a queen and Alicia's queen ant host

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and the queen essentially harbors this

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maggot in her body and then she gives

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birth to the maggot

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and cares for the maggot and the maggot

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pupate and then she dies and you know

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I'm there have been literature about

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this parasitic flight that parasitizes

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lacy Asst Queens but it was never

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documented on video so you know that's

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one example and testament to the fact

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that at keeping certainly has its place

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in the discovery of the fascinating

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lives of ants and that's just my opinion

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so anyways thanks again this video is

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gone quite long and I really appreciate

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the support guys and love forever

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Étiquettes Connexes
Ant ColonyTropical Fire AntAnt KeepingOmni NestsFormic AreaAnt CareAnt BehaviorColony GrowthAnt FeedingAnt Habitat
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