Ant Farms For Kids
Ant farms for kids. If your kids have not had the experience of managing an ant farm – you are all missing out on a wonderful educational opportunity. Read on to be taught extra about the advantages and delight that can come from ant farming.
What Is A Formicarium?
Ants have been digging and tunneling in the dust for over a hundred million years. Then somebody thought about capturing them and inserting them in a smaller environment where they might be observed.
A formicarium is a vivarium which is designed for the aim of studying ant colonies and how ants behave. We extra commonly refer to them as ant farms. A vivarium is an enclosed structure or space for holding and elevating animals or vegetation for statement or research.
The first formicarium was offered commercially in 1929 by inventor, Frank Austin. To make them extra enjoyable, he included painted and wooden scenes of farms, palace, and different surroundings above the bottom line. After a lot success, he patented his idea in 1931.
The finest-identified formicariums are these created by “Uncle Milton Ant Farm”. The Westlake Village, California firm has offered nicely over 20 million ant farms since 1956. Uncle Milton Industries also owns the “Ant Farm” brand name.
The medium that the ants dig in and make their house will be soil, vermiculite, sand, sawdust, or similar material. Not too long ago, a semi-transparent gel has been used. This gel that was developed by NASA, provides the ants with nutrition, moisture and nesting medium. The one factor it lacks is protein, which is essential for the queen and larvae.
The most typical sort of ants used to inventory formicariums are harvester ants. They get their name from the truth that they lower (harvest) tiny pieces of grass to build nest mounds. The 2 commonest species of harvester ants are the Texas and western (crimson) harvester.
Educational Benefits
I still bear in mind clearly once I went with my father to the [hardware] store. We received [two] 12″ by 10″ glass panes cut. Then, it was off to the interest store to buy some balsa wood blocks and resin.
After about [two] hours of arduous work, my masterpiece was complete. I had constructed my first ant farm. About three days later, my ant colony arrived within the mail. I can not inform you what number of hours of remark I put in, however it was considerable.
Needless to say, this experience made a definite impression on me. Like 1000’s of other little one ant farmers, I too sought out every ant associated e book in the faculty and native libraries. It proved to be a priceless and cherished lesson in my life.
Foricariums can stoke the inventive juices in youngsters and immediate them to study even more about wildlife and the environments wherein live. Additionally, because of their uniqueness, some of the newer novelty ant farms would make nice “present and inform” project.
You can supply your kids the same experience. Both buy an ant farm equipment or build one from scratch. In any case, will probably be effectively worth the effort and your youngsters will thank you for the experience.
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