Ants?

wanderbug · Jul 5th, 2005, 06:05

This may be a rather unusual question but are there anywhere that ants can particularly be found across india?
I am really interested in jungle ants and their heirarchy and constant migration etc.

Sorry to bore you all! Just having trouble finding any nature reserves which actually take any interest in them.
I have mainly studied African and South American ones and in all honesty am a little unsure as to whether there are many species of interest in Asia.

Fingers crossed! and thanks in advance.

wonderwomanusa · Jul 5th, 2005, 07:27

>This may be a rather unusual question but are there anywhere that ants can particularly be found across india?<

The Delhi area has big, dumb black ants that come out in the night; in the daytime they are replaced by flies. The ants tickle when they walk over our bodies.

The only time I remember ants from anywhere else in the country was when I left food lying around.

The folks at your own local natural history museum may be able to direct you to interesting areas.

seraph · Jul 5th, 2005, 10:32

LOL I don't know about any nature reserves for ants in India, but I can tell you that I have counted four species in my kitchen!

Never apologise for an interest in mymercology. Good luck with your search.

mira4bai4 · Jul 5th, 2005, 12:59

Doing a Google search India Ants seems to bring up some interesting stuff.

rangss · Jul 5th, 2005, 14:46

Those tiny red ones have completely taken over my house. I had to sun-dry my entire wardrobe and linen to protect myself. I am black, blue and red all over. Help!

cyberhippie · Jul 5th, 2005, 15:12

Those fire ants are little buggers! I have to brave them when I go to the toilet sometimes!

Nick-H · Jul 5th, 2005, 16:28

You too Rangss? Are they a Chennai speciality?

How can anything so tiny itch so much when it walks? Or pack such a bite?

Here's my ant question: do geckos eat them?

Digital Drifter · Jul 5th, 2005, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

[...]
Here's my ant question: do geckos eat them?

No, but those ants eat geckos, especially when the gecko is dead!

abracax · Jul 5th, 2005, 21:23

Tough to find a place in India without ants, although many are invaders. I spent some time watching Pheidole indica ants in Coorg, which seem to have adapted well to life on coffee plantations.

rangss · Jul 5th, 2005, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

You too Rangss? Are they a Chennai speciality?

How can anything so tiny itch so much when it walks? Or pack such a bite?

Here's my ant question: do geckos eat them?

Red ants are a Chennai speciality... someone gave me a solution...zero down on the sources of the ant-parade and seal them with a good measure of turmeric.

concoran · Jul 5th, 2005, 22:35

There appear to be two types of ants in India.
- Black : Usually harmless. They don't bother humans, go about doing their work which is gathering food. Don't bite unless you grab its leg and try to tear it apart.
- Red (dark red) : Usually harmless, but tempermental. If you touch them, they easily bite. Usually infants are their victims (once I too was, my mom tells). Their bite leaves you with a pain, and an itchy feeling.

beach · Jul 5th, 2005, 23:00

I can give you busloads of details (cautions) on all specieses of aunts in India

Ants??, that's not my cup of chai,though i used to remove one or two at times from my chai cup!

BTW we've a butterfly park in Mysore, if it is any way related....

Nick-H · Jul 5th, 2005, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by concoran

... ... ... Usually infants are their victims ... ... ...

Mental picture of 180,000,000 ants carrying off a baby

cyberhippie · Jul 6th, 2005, 00:51

For a look at the ants you might come across in India try this webpage as your starting point!!

Ants

mikewill · Jul 8th, 2005, 06:24

Great site Cyberhippie. Now I've more ID stuff to take to India with me - just a shame the butterfly part of the site doesn't have something similar. I've been trying to find a good ID guide for ages.

Jul 5th, 2005, 06:05	#1
wanderbug Looking is for free Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: UK Posts: 70	Ants? This may be a rather unusual question but are there anywhere that ants can particularly be found across india? I am really interested in jungle ants and their heirarchy and constant migration etc. Sorry to bore you all! Just having trouble finding any nature reserves which actually take any interest in them. I have mainly studied African and South American ones and in all honesty am a little unsure as to whether there are many species of interest in Asia. Fingers crossed! and thanks in advance.

Jul 5th, 2005, 14:46	#5
rangss Bulk Carrier Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,838	Those tiny red ones have completely taken over my house. I had to sun-dry my entire wardrobe and linen to protect myself. I am black, blue and red all over. Help! __________________ ...and I took the road less travelled.

Jul 5th, 2005, 16:28	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	You too Rangss? Are they a Chennai speciality? How can anything so tiny itch so much when it walks? Or pack such a bite? Here's my ant question: do geckos eat them? __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jul 5th, 2005, 21:23	#9
abracax Mahaguru Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 435	They're Everywhere! Tough to find a place in India without ants, although many are invaders. I spent some time watching Pheidole indica ants in Coorg, which seem to have adapted well to life on coffee plantations. Attached Thumbnails __________________ He travels fastest who pays for a cab.

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Jul 5th, 2005, 07:27	#2
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,568	>This may be a rather unusual question but are there anywhere that ants can particularly be found across india?< The Delhi area has big, dumb black ants that come out in the night; in the daytime they are replaced by flies. The ants tickle when they walk over our bodies. The only time I remember ants from anywhere else in the country was when I left food lying around. The folks at your own local natural history museum may be able to direct you to interesting areas.

Jul 5th, 2005, 10:32	#3
seraph Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vaikuntha Dham Posts: 443	LOL I don't know about any nature reserves for ants in India, but I can tell you that I have counted four species in my kitchen! Never apologise for an interest in mymercology. Good luck with your search.

Jul 5th, 2005, 12:59	#4
mira4bai4 Lost in Space Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: ND PaharGanj Permanently/Temporarily Posts: 1,195	Doing a Google search India Ants seems to bring up some interesting stuff.

Jul 5th, 2005, 15:12	#6
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Those fire ants are little buggers! I have to brave them when I go to the toilet sometimes!

Jul 5th, 2005, 22:35	#11
concoran Explorer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Desert Southwest Posts: 317	There appear to be two types of ants in India. - Black : Usually harmless. They don't bother humans, go about doing their work which is gathering food. Don't bite unless you grab its leg and try to tear it apart. - Red (dark red) : Usually harmless, but tempermental. If you touch them, they easily bite. Usually infants are their victims (once I too was, my mom tells). Their bite leaves you with a pain, and an itchy feeling.

Jul 5th, 2005, 23:00	#12
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,234	I can give you busloads of details (cautions) on all specieses of aunts in India Ants??, that's not my cup of chai,though i used to remove one or two at times from my chai cup! BTW we've a butterfly park in Mysore, if it is any way related....

Jul 6th, 2005, 00:51	#14
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	For a look at the ants you might come across in India try this webpage as your starting point!! Ants

Jul 8th, 2005, 06:24	#15
mikewill Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Exeter, England Posts: 276	Great site Cyberhippie. Now I've more ID stuff to take to India with me - just a shame the butterfly part of the site doesn't have something similar. I've been trying to find a good ID guide for ages.

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