My Harvester Ants

As some of you may know, others may not, we allow Harvester Ants to live in our yard ... it helps that there are no small children playing in our yard - and some days "we" have to be really diligent as to where we stand!  This started in the house we lived in before we purchased the one we are now living in ... we had one bed of Harvesters and we also had many Horned Lizards ("horny toad") a-coming to dinner.  We had all sizes and ages and they appreciated that we didn't "nuke" the ants (horny toads eat at least 60% ant, more if they can get them).  Desert USA - Horned Lizard

So, when we moved - I was pleased one day to notice at the southern boundary of our yard ... there was a small colony.  I excitedly pointed it out to my honey and we also awaited in anticipation - would we see horned lizards AND the answer was YES!  So, the "southern tribe" were allowed to live and prospect.  (I will state here, our home sits on two city lots - so our backyard is .. ummmm, rather large!)

The next tribe to come along developed as the "eastern tribe" -- and even though they are a good distance from the southern tribe .. there were still sqaubbles (ants can have fierce wars) and they too began to prosper.  Then outside the fenceline another queen managed to get a home started ... the "western tribe"!  The three tribes have epic battles, make wonderful trails to and from food sources AND love it when we turn the water on ... crazy right?

So, the whole point of this crazy rambly blog ... we noticed a week ago - after much activity - that the eastern tribe no longer were in residence at their mound.  I supposed that since the first two colonies are just at 15 years old, that the queen had died and with no one to lay new workers, that the colony had died.  It was a bit sad, considering how hard they had worked over the years BUT ... yes BUT ... THEY ARE BACK.

Two nights ago, while out watching the antics of the others, I went over to look at the "abandoned" mound and there were a handful of workers digging out another hole -- it appears that they had a "mine disaster" (aka collapse of the main tunnel) and they have since dug themselves out and back into the open -- persistance and hard work pays off!

So all is well in our backyard again -- until the next ant disaster!  Here's a great little website, if you want to know the "rest of the story."  Desert USA - Harvester Ants

PS  You know I can see why people enjoy "ant farms" .. "BUT HEY" ... let 'em out of the case - be kind to a horned lizard!