The reality TV on ants on the internet

The ants’ activities can be followed in real time through the internet during the summer 2011. A big wood ant terrarium with more than 2000 workers and at least one queen has been build into the University of Turku. The hectic life of ants can now be followed by a web camera that is installed into the terrarium.

From the web camera you can see ants hurrying in their duties. If there are not enough needles or booty to carry, the ants may carry each others. Sometimes you can see a tiny shiny guest ant walking through the field of view.
 
– The ants get vitaminized honey water and dead insects for food every day, tells Jouni Sorvari, adjunct professor from the University of Turku. In addition, the ants get needles and other nest building material from time to time.
 
– The ants took in the web camera with great interest. In the beginning there were so many ants on the lens of the web camera that the picture was very blurry. Now the ants are still very interested in the camera and they walk on it constantly, but they have left the lens alone. However, sometimes a curious ant can peek into the lens.
 
The terrarium colony and children’s drawing exhibition "Ants and other creatures" can be visited on the spot at the lobby of Nature sciences building 1 in the opening hours of the University (Mo-Fri 8-18). The exhibition has free entrance and it is open until 31st of August 2011.
 •Ant web camera
 
The ant terrarium and the web camera are part of the program of Turku 2011 European Capital of Culture and it is made collaboratively by the ants, the project Antspotting in Turku and the Department of Biology of the University of Turku.

Additional information: Adjunct professor Jouni Sorvari, University of Turku, Department of Biology, +358 44 333 7375, jouni.sorvari@utu.fi
http://www.turku2011.fi/en/antspotting-turku_en

The project Antspotting in Turku is a part of Turku 2011 European Capital of Culture program. The aim of the project is to popularize the ecological study of the University of Turku and increase knowledge on ants and the diversity of nature. The project gives people a chance to experience nature in a new way. The project is organised by the Zoological and Botanical Society of Turku.