Post B2BvniPSjzZYf6VKQS by dicenbuttons@mastodon.social
(DIR) More posts by dicenbuttons@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #B2BvniPSjzZYf6VKQS by dicenbuttons@mastodon.social
2026-01-11T22:46:14Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
The big #anthill I pass on my lunchtime walks is coming to life! (for size reference, the hill is somewhere between 4 and 5 feet tall.I don't check it daily so it's possible that I'm late to catch on, but this was the first time all winter I've seen activity on the hill. They're moving slowly, presumably to conserve energy. A good lesson, that: Move slowly. Conserve energy.#awalkaday #ants #formicidae #pnw
(DIR) Post #B2Bvy3GQ3oD4EgCep6 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-12T00:08:32Z
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@dicenbuttons That is a good looking ant hill. Are you in Europe or out west in the US?It's a little odd for them to be this active in winter, but if there is sun they will go out and try to warm-up. They do this thing where they sit in the sun and get warm. Then go deep in the nest and get cold... over and over, slowly warming up the nest with their bodies.
(DIR) Post #B2Bw0bf193lbUivX6G by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-12T00:08:59Z
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@geoffduncan @dicenbuttons I think you are correct unless this is somehow in Europe.
(DIR) Post #B2BwkFxe9iClW1PN2W by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-12T00:17:15Z
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@dicenbuttons Have humans ever made anything as proportionally magnificent? Look at this nest, it's designed to maintain the perfect micro-climate. It's the home to 100,000s of ants. It's made of natural materials and perfectly integrated into the forest... not just "not imposing" but actively making the forest a better place. And yet it towers like the work of the best engineers to collect the rays of the sun like the great pyramid. But there is no pharaoh. Only the colony.
(DIR) Post #B2Bx2wCvp4UjklSvdQ by minmi@sfba.social
2026-01-12T00:20:35Z
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@futurebird @dicenbuttons Oh god…right up to the last sentence I thought this was just a cute story about ants doing that thing where you go in the sauna and then the snowbank just for fun
(DIR) Post #B2Bx6KWhrV5i2uKgc4 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-12T00:21:15Z
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@minmi @dicenbuttons Isn't that done to help melt the snow?
(DIR) Post #B2BxDLu98XJILZe32e by minmi@sfba.social
2026-01-12T00:22:29Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@futurebird @dicenbuttons 🤣 an ancient Nordic ritual to bring the spring. So altruistic.
(DIR) Post #B2ByNvzNvjK16whlxo by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-12T00:35:37Z
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@dicenbuttons And here is a shocking tale of how humans have tried to claim that they made great hearths, but it turns out... these too were just the work of ants.(Seriously, it's an interesting debate, and I'm fascinated how the debate is between anthropogenic origin or ANTpogenic origin since ants make that much of a mark.) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341997241_Arguments_in_favour_of_an_anthropogenic_origin_of_Mesolithic_pit_hearths_A_reply_to
(DIR) Post #B2BzmFSpH5LIPodLG4 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-12T00:51:13Z
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@minmi @dicenbuttons What could be more fun than helping the colony get warm? Your little larvae sisters are so cold and you can bring them the rays of the sun. :)
(DIR) Post #B2C5w2FTrYYs39RQJc by dicenbuttons@mastodon.social
2026-01-12T02:00:08Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@futurebird I'm over in the PNW, about 45 mins south of Seattle. The whole area is scattered with big anthills like this; I think these ants have some kind of communal hive thing going on where they cooperate rather than compete, but I'm no expert.
(DIR) Post #B2C79WnJhoOwVLGWno by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-12T02:13:52Z
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@dicenbuttons That sounds like Formica obscuripes (common name "thatching ant" although this covers several kinds of Formica wood ants...) and they have the right colors and are in the right location.
(DIR) Post #B2C7VjUpA4nYGkChea by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-12T02:17:53Z
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@dicenbuttons If you can get a macro photo we can narrow it down... although, the way these ants live tends to be somewhat similar. https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/getting-to-know-thatching-ants-a-general-guide-for-the-pacific-northwest/32298
(DIR) Post #B2C7kaRT6gM8X2iWn2 by grootinside@troet.cafe
2026-01-12T02:18:20Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@dicenbuttons @futurebird Since you are so focused on ants, you DO give us a shout when #PhaseIV is active, right?
(DIR) Post #B2C7kbZetiVA2jYaC8 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-12T02:20:31Z
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@grootinside @dicenbuttons lose mandibles sink ships... or... something like that. IDK just look for the strange comet?
(DIR) Post #B2C82egm3W5EuqUZ8q by grootinside@troet.cafe
2026-01-12T02:23:47Z
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@futurebird @dicenbuttons Tbh i wouldn't mind if they start to set up those little towers with mirrors to overheat datacenters... 🤔😈
(DIR) Post #B2C89ALTGr5opldG1g by dicenbuttons@mastodon.social
2026-01-12T02:24:59Z
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@futurebird @grootinside "Look for the strange comet" is generally good life advice too.I'll see if I can get a better photo next time I'm out there; I'm just using my cellphone camera but even so. Worth a shot.
(DIR) Post #B2C8QFUHPENVhktkHY by Ehay2k@mastodon.social
2026-01-12T02:28:00Z
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@futurebird @dicenbuttons Nature's heat pump!