They used to advertise them in the back of comic books. As a kid, I used to find them fascinating when you saw them in large amounts any where. You can follow their trail until it goes into a tiny hole somewhere. Some guy didn't settle for that. He went ahead and let us view what happens when they disappeared....he created the ant farm
ONLY IN AMERICA....$$$
It is an amazing thing really. You would see them in toy stores everywhere. I used to read the boxes and it would tell a fascinating story and the pictures were good too. Of course I always wondered how they would survive in a box on a shelf, but assumed that they do or they would run out of product. Ahhh, the world of a kid
I OPENED THE BOX...THE ANTS WHERE GONE
One day I was in a store and decided to actually want to see them because it was gnawing on me badly (9-11 age) as to how they are kept in the box, fed, and did not escape yet stay alive too. How did they do that? I opened the box (after looking around) and couldn't find any ants and I thought, whoa, before you actually buy this, you have to check to see they didn't escape.
YEARS LATER..YOU LEARN THINGS
Well years later (16-18 age), I discovered that you buy the unit and then, follow the instructions inside and they send you live ants. Then you take those and put it in your farm. Ohhhh...sez I, that's how they do it and have a moment unto myself...a laugh if you will. Being a kid is so precious and innocent.
WATCHING THEM IS AMAZING
If you have ever studied one, it is fascinating. Now, thanks to the inventor of this product, you get to go beyond the little hole where they used to disappear and into their world. Leave them something to eat, and they carry it back to the nest. They build ingenious little passage ways that can keep out water, allow for breathing and even two way traffic.
THEIR BUILDING SKILLS REQUIRE NO DEGREES OR LEARNING...THEY JUST KNOW WHAT TO DO
There are chambers or rooms set aside for food, breeding, a nursery and general gathering. One ant called a queen rules them all and she has her own court too. In the insect world, these are well respected creatures. They are found all over the world and in different sizes but all with the same purpose and behavior. In Africa and Brazil they went all out and are not only huge, but highly aggressive. They can attack like a shark or a piranha and cut something up before it knows what hit it and transport it back safari style for snacking later on
LIFE ON THIS PLANET
If the only thing on this planet were ants and visitors from another planet came and saw them, they would marvel at their intelligence. How could you not? Look past the fact that they interfere with picnics and like to sneak into homes. When it comes to efficiency and effectiveness, we could learn a few things here...