Mastodawn

myrmepropagandist

I love it when people share photos of their ant infestation with me. It always feels like they think I might know some prominent ant in that particular colony and be able to email them or something "listen, ya'll need to get out of Tony's BBQ, he's on the verge of firing it up without letting you move out first."

Like I'm responsible for all of the ants, and I'm their ambassador or something. I mean... it's a little true. But, the ants will do what they want. They will get into everything.

myrmepropagandist Mar 25

And when I say "I love it" I'm not being sarcastic, although I do find it kind of funny.

"Look what YOUR ants are doing!"

Please don't get mad I'll ask them stop, I'm certain we can work this out somehow...

Proto Himbo European Mar 25

@futurebird We had ants in our kitchen for a few years, coming in through a wall. They're gone now. My brother-in-law thinks he eliminated their nests under the siding or something whatever. I'm pretty sure it's because I finally started telling them you'd be disappointed in their behavior.

Lisa 🦔 [Copy Moon Joy]Mar 25

we appreciate your service as antbassador 😁

WearyBonnie Mar 25

@futurebird
My late grandpa-in-law used to leave a bit of fruitcake on the indoors windowsill as an offering to the ants, so that the ants would have no need to venture further info the kitchen 😊
It seemed to work for him, but I'm sure if I tried it, it would just result in a lot more ants everywhere. I half believe the English ants are a bit magical, like Tolkien creatures.

@futurebird Antbassador?

cwicseolfor Mar 25

@futurebird Ohhhhh, darn. I wish I had thought to photograph the ants who moved a nest into the gap between window and frame - I hadn’t opened that window in a couple of months because it has been cold, so when it came time my partner discovered it a third full of eggs, imported sand, and workers.

I grabbed a grapefruit and scored the peel with a fingernail to circumscribe an arc of grapefruit oil across the sill so they hopefully wouldn’t lay trails to come seeking refuge inside, then sloooowly flooded the window channel (the water and some ants and sand began flowing out of the drainage outlets); I figured that would be a relocation scenario they would be equipped to handle and they made quick work of relocating the rest of the eggs before I sluiced the sand out much faster. I still need to check that they stayed gone, though.

May Likes Toronto Mar 25

@futurebird You are FutureBird, you speak for the ants.

Damon L. Wakes Mar 25

@futurebird I want to speak to the myrmeger.

Jo - pièce de résistance Mar 25

@DamonWakes @futurebird
lol. Love this.

Jo - pièce de résistance Mar 25

@futurebird
the ant whisperer.

Jo - pièce de résistance Mar 25

@futurebird
Or maybe just The Myrmurer

The Human Capybara Mar 25

@futurebird With great power comes great responsibility.

A spider taught us that.

Virginicus Mar 25

@futurebird I have just realized that I don’t know the gender-neutral version of “I know a guy…”

Я⊛ḶḶ model ‽‽‽Mar 25

@Virginicus @futurebird

'frood' is gender-neutral

Virginicus Mar 25

@saltywizard I’m not hoopy enough to use it without feeling awkward.

Я⊛ḶḶ model ‽‽‽Mar 25

as long as your know where your towel is.

@futurebird ̶a̶m̶b̶a̶s̶s̶a̶d̶o̶r̶ ̶
QWEEN

neville park Mar 25

@futurebird surely the equivalent of hearing someone is from [other country] and asking "Do you know [random person] from [country]?"

myrmepropagandist Mar 25

Maybe even a little worse LOL. But I do want to know every ant so... fair too.

Vayl Larkin (they/them)Mar 25

@futurebird I hope it's ok if I thank you for all of your posts. I have a pretty good working relationship with 99% of bugs. They chill, I chill, we all chill together. Ants freak me out though because of how much food they ruined when I was poor and hadn't yet learned to lock all carbs in iron boxes. I do not like having an "automatic" bad reaction to any creature, and reading your stories and information about them has gone a long way toward improving our relationship. Thank you :).

Steve Gisselbrecht Mar 25

If I had ANY suspicion that this might be true, I would ABSOLUTELY implore you to call them off.

Wendinlondon 🇺🇦Mar 25

@futurebird Same adorable vibe as, “ooh, you’re English, you must know _______?”

@futurebird This is not an infestation, but please enjoy this queen and perhaps her (extremely ephemeral) king. Likely winter ants. They were crawling down my back alley like they were late for a very important date.

I was tempted to try catching the queen to found a captive ant colony, but I don't know how to tell if she's finished mating. Also I have a baby and maybe I don't need more responsibility.

🇵🇸 Amanda Mar 25

@skyfaller @futurebird wow the iridescent wings on the male are gorgeous, great share

akoshibe Mar 25

@futurebird Can I show you these Pheidoles that I befriended by accidentally dropping crumbs of cheese?

Not an infestation, just wanted to share :D

myrmepropagandist Mar 25

Awww I love their big goofy heads :)

I wish I had a sister with a head like that.

Neia masks Mar 25

@akoshibe @futurebird My spouse: "You may fascinate a woman with a piece of cheese!"

I like how distinct the majors are from the workers!

myrmepropagandist Mar 25

@neia @akoshibe

their little eyes and antennae (same size as on their smaller sisters) crack me up.

@futurebird antbassador.