These are the topics (and included links) that you should read before posting questions on this message board. This will help everyone to ask questions that are not repeated on a daily basis and improve the quality of the answers. Also, everyone is of course welcome to answer questions as well as ask them.

Before we start, one little remark: When you refer to queens or workers: SHE; When you refer to winged males: HE. Please do this because our Supreme Overlord gets gray hair on this!

1. This message board is, as far as we know, the most frequented ant-related message board in the world! A key to its success is the respect of its contributors for its rules and traditions. Because of this we have been functioning smoothly since February 28, 2000. Please read the message board's news, notes, tips, and rules (e.g., no trading and selling ants), and disclaimer and keep these in mind as you write your messages.

2. Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ (Ant questions in general and advice on a lot of ant-related problems).

3. If you want to identify an ant please follow Dr. Ant's guide:
Quote:
One cannot begin to identify the species of ants in your new colony without more information. Ideally, it would be good to post all of the following.

1. Where collected? Country and nearest city or town on map, elevation if in a very mountainous area such as the Rockies, Alps, Himalayas, Andes, etc.

2. Habitat of collection, including nesting medium (wood, soil, leaves tied together with silk, etc.) and type of vegetation (forest, grassland, park/lawn/garden, desert).

3. Coloration, hue and pattern? Uniform? Head darker? Gaster darker? Legs lighter or darker? Any spots? Also, shininess, dullness. You get the idea...

4. Distinguishing characteristics, such as one or two segments in waist; location, length and orientation of any spines or bumps on the mid portion of the body or waist; head shape, etc.

5. Length in millimeters. Width is also helpful. NO guessing! Stretch out a dead or chilled individual or several individuals of different sizes along a millimeter ruler. 16ths of an inch will do as a poor second to millimeters.

6. Anything else distinctive, such as odor, behavior, etc.

7. Post this in a new thread in the Anting Forum.

4. Reference Forum This serves as the library for the message board regarding anything technical in nature. There are also references to books and journals regarding anything technical in nature.

5. Glossary and Taxonomy Links for explanations of morphological and behavioral terms and links to threads on taxonomic issues.

6. Teleutotje's Personal Top Ant Sites thread has a very extensive list of internet sites about ants.

7. Anting for Dummies thread guidelines for observing and collecting ants.

8. Anting/Field Observations Forum includes a lot of information on anting techniques.

9. The Ant Farm's Reading Room has very extensive list that AntDude has compiled over the years and it is frequently updated.

We wish you many pleasant visits to the Ant Farm's Message Board.


[updated] --antdude