Introduction
A formicarium is a type of vivarium designed to replicate the natural habitat of ants. In our case, we are focusing on the leafcutter ant, Atta sexdens. The word 'formicarium' comes from the Latin 'formica' which means ant and the ending ’-arium’ which can be translated to ‘site’, 'place' or 'room'. Therefore a formicarium is a ‘place for ants'. [1]
The main goal of this project is to provide Spf biology students with hands-on experience of scientific research, including what it involves and the responsibilities that come with it. Working with animals not only taught us independence, responsibility and problem solving skills, but also showed us how to work together as a team and how important good communication can be.
Two generations of SPF biology students have previously completed the formicarium project. The first generation built a formicarium from scratch and conducted extensive research, while the second generation took over the formicarium and ants a year later, attempting to keep them alive and healthy. Now, two years later, it is our turn.
As all the previous ants had died, our aim was to rebuild the formicarium and improve upon it. To achieve this, we cleaned and refilled the old containers and added new chambers. We also researched and compared information from the previous generations and from the internet. Effective collaboration and communication within the group, as well as with the teacher and assistants, was essential for the project's success. During this time, we made many mistakes, but we also gained valuable experience. These ups and downs deepened our understanding of biology and scientific research, and helped us reflect on whether we want to pursue this kind of work in the future.
This website provides detailed insights into process, progress and passion behind our Formicarium Project.
Sources:
[1] Syeda Gulrez, Shivaji Chavan, Rajesh Achegawe (2023): Comparative structural variations in formicarium required for In-vitro studies in two species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), International Journal of Entomology Research: Volume 8, Issue 2, 2023, Page No. 109-112. ISSN:2455-4758
