What Queen Ants To Look Out For Right Now (May 30th, 2018)

AntsCanada

30 May 201803:20

Summary

TLDRIn this episode of Ant Bite Wednesdays, the host shares insights on ant keeping, particularly focusing on Camponotus ants, which are currently in their prime season for queen spotting in North America. The host encourages viewers to capture and care for these ants, highlighting their ease of observation and slow growth. Additionally, the video offers guidance for ant enthusiasts globally, suggesting how to identify local flying ants. The host also promotes the AntsCanada.com store for ant-keeping supplies and invites viewers to join the AC Family for more ant-related content.

Takeaways

👋 Welcome to ANT BITE WEDNESDAYS, a show about ants and their relevance to global news, social media, and ant keeping.
🌍 The host is informing North American viewers about queen ants to look out for, while also offering guidance for viewers from other continents.
📍 The host recently met with the AC Family in Ontario, Canada, and was impressed by the ant enthusiasts' passion and participation.
👗 Many attendees came dressed in ant-themed attire and brought their own queen ants, indicating a strong interest in ant keeping.
🌳 The current season is ideal for spotting Camponotus ants, commonly known as carpenter ants, especially in the afternoons.
🔍 When a queen ant is found, she should be placed in a test tube setup and kept in the dark to encourage egg-laying.
🐜 Camponotus ants are favored for their large size, ease of observation, and polymorphic characteristics, including the presence of super majors.
🚫 However, Camponotus ants have a slower growth rate, taking 8 weeks to develop from egg to adult and requiring more time to reach significant numbers.
📚 The host recommends watching the Camponotus Care tutorial and other ant tutorials for in-depth information on ant care.
🌏 The video also provides information on ant species that may be flying in Europe, Australia, and Asia.
📝 Viewers are encouraged to share their queen ant captures and locations to help others in their region identify and find ants.
🛒 AntsCanada.com offers ant keeping gear, including test tubes for queen ants and an e-book guide on ant keeping.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is about queen ants, particularly in North America, and how to identify and care for them.
What event did the speaker attend recently?
-The speaker attended the first AntsCanada meet & greet in Ontario, Canada.
Why is the speaker's voice hoarse?
-The speaker's voice is hoarse due to the recent event where they met many AC Family members.
What did the attendees of the AntsCanada meet & greet bring with them?
-The attendees brought ant shirts, test tubes, ant costumes, and even queen ants to the event.
What is the current season for Camponotus ants?
-The current season is the ultimate season for Camponotus ants, also known as carpenter ants.
How should a queen ant be placed for egg-laying?
-A queen ant should be placed in a proper test tube setup, kept in the dark, and she should start laying eggs in a few days.
What is special about Camponotus ants?
-Camponotus ants are large, polymorphic (having super majors after about the hundredth worker), and relatively easy to keep, making them great for observation.
What is a downside of keeping Camponotus ants?
-Camponotus ants are slow-growing, taking 8 weeks for development from egg to adult worker, and the queen takes periodic egg-laying breaks.
What is the typical time frame before one can see impressive numbers of Camponotus ants?
-It usually takes two years before you start to see impressive numbers of Camponotus ants.
What additional resources does the video recommend for ant keeping?
-The video recommends watching the Camponotus Care tutorial and checking out the playlist of ant tutorials for a full range of helpful ant keeping tips.
What does the speaker suggest for those who do not live in North America?
-For those who do not live in North America, the video will show what ants may be flying in their area in Europe, Australia, and Asia.
Where can viewers find ant keeping gear and resources?
-Viewers can find ant keeping gear and resources at AntsCanada.com, including specially made test tubes for queen ants and a complete e-book handbook guide on ant keeping.

Outlines

00:00

🐜 Ant Bite Wednesday Introduction

The script opens with a warm welcome to the AC Family for Ant Bite Wednesdays, a segment covering global news, social media, and ant keeping. The host, with a hoarse voice from a recent meet-up in Ontario, Canada, expresses surprise at the number of ant enthusiasts who are also ant keepers. The host encourages new ant keepers to start looking for queen ants, particularly Camponotus, during the current season, and provides basic care instructions. The script also promises information for viewers outside North America on local ant species and invites viewers to share their ant-keeping experiences in the comments.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AC Family

The term 'AC Family' refers to the community of followers and enthusiasts of AntsCanada, a platform dedicated to ants and ant keeping. In the video script, the speaker addresses this community directly, indicating a close relationship and a sense of belonging. The phrase is used to create a welcoming atmosphere and to engage with the audience who share a common interest in ants.

💡Ant Bite Wednesdays

Ant Bite Wednesdays is a specific program or series within the AntsCanada content, presumably aired on Wednesdays. It covers topics related to ants, including global news, social media, and ant keeping practices. The script mentions this as the current program, suggesting it's a regular feature that viewers can expect to learn from and enjoy.

💡Queen Ants

Queen ants are the reproductive females in an ant colony, responsible for laying eggs and starting new colonies. In the script, the speaker advises viewers to look out for queen ants, particularly in North America, and provides tips on how to identify and care for them. The focus on queen ants is crucial as they are the foundation of ant keeping and the subject of many enthusiasts' interest.

💡Camponotus Ants

Camponotus ants, also known as carpenter ants, are a genus of ants that are highlighted in the video. The speaker mentions that these ants are currently in their optimal season for being spotted and collected. They are characterized by being large, polymorphic (having different sizes of workers), and relatively easy to keep, although they grow slowly. This genus is central to the video's discussion on ant keeping.

💡Polymorphic

The term 'polymorphic' in the context of ants refers to a species having individuals of different sizes and forms within the same colony. The script uses this term to describe Camponotus ants, emphasizing their characteristic of having 'super majors' among their workers. This trait is significant for ant keepers as it adds to the diversity and complexity of the colony.

💡Test Tube Setup

A test tube setup is a method used by ant keepers to house and observe ants, particularly queen ants. The script instructs viewers to place captured queen ants into a proper test tube setup, keeping them in the dark to encourage egg-laying. This setup is essential for the initial stages of ant keeping and is a common practice among enthusiasts.

💡AntsCanada Meet & Greet

The AntsCanada meet & greet is an event where enthusiasts gather to share their passion for ants. The script mentions a recent event in Ontario, Canada, where the speaker met many members of the AC Family. This event is significant as it demonstrates the community aspect of ant keeping and the personal connections formed through shared interests.

💡Antiverse

The term 'Antiverse' is a playful and imaginative way to refer to the world of ants and everything related to them. It is used in the script to describe the broader context in which ant keeping and ant-related discussions take place. The concept of the Antiverse encapsulates the vast and diverse world of ants that the video aims to explore.

💡Ant Keeping Gear

Ant keeping gear refers to the various tools and equipment needed to maintain and observe ant colonies. The script mentions that AntsCanada.com offers a range of such gear, including specially made test tubes for queen ants. This gear is essential for anyone interested in starting or expanding their ant keeping hobby.

💡E-book Handbook Guide

An e-book handbook guide is a digital resource providing comprehensive information and instructions on a specific topic. In the script, the speaker refers to an e-book guide on ant keeping available at AntsCanada.com. This guide is meant to assist and educate ant keepers, offering valuable tips and advice on managing ant colonies.

💡Nuptial Flights

Nuptial flights are the periods when winged ants, particularly queens and males, leave their colonies to mate. The script mentions that the speaker is interested in data on nuptial flights in South America and Africa, indicating the importance of these events in the life cycle of ants and their relevance to ant keeping. Nuptial flights are a key time for ant enthusiasts to observe and potentially capture new queens.

Highlights

Introduction to ANT BITE WEDNESDAYS, a show covering ants' relation to global news, social media, and ant keeping.

Advice for North American viewers on queen ants to look out for.

Invitation for non-North American viewers to stay tuned for information relevant to their continent.

Personal account of the AntsCanada meet & greet in Ontario, Canada.

Observation of the ant-keeping community's enthusiasm and participation.

Encouragement for new ant keepers to start observing and collecting queen ants.

Seasonal advice on the best time for finding Camponotus ants.

Instructions on how to properly care for a captured queen ant.

Identification of Camponotus ants as a favorite among ant keepers.

Description of Camponotus ants' characteristics, such as size and polymorphism.

Caveat about the slow growth rate of Camponotus ants.

Recommendation to watch the Camponotus Care tutorial for in-depth information.

Information on a playlist of ant tutorials for a range of ant keeping tips.

Geographical advice for viewers outside North America on local ant species.

Call to action for viewers to share their ant-keeping experiences in the comments.

Acknowledgment of limited data on ant nuptial flights in South America and Africa.

Promotion of AntsCanada.com for ant keeping gear and resources.

Teaser for an upcoming episode featuring 'alien colonists'.

Closing remarks with a call to subscribe and join the AC Family.