Ants

[bjreroberts]

Checking the cattle this afternoon, I found one of my Dexters licking an ant hill. I am not sure whether she was after the eggs or the ants themselves, but she was definitely doing it on purpose and not just being curious.

Has anyone else seen this before?

[Duncan MacIntyre]

I have never heard of such a thing. Was there exposed soil she would have been drawn to, or was she actively eating the ants?

I know some gamekeepers think that pheasants need a good supply of ants to eat, maybe you better buy a shotgun and retriever..

I have noticed a strange thing with ants for the first time this summer, when getting rid of ragwort. Quite a few of the plants had black stuff round the stems of the flower heads, and on closer examination most of the black was a very small species of very black ants. There were also a number of tiny black beetles, which only seemed to be on the plants the ants were on. I have passed samples on to an entomologist to see if it is a recognised occurence. At first glance I thought it was black aphids like you get on beans. I am sure you are all very interested in ants.

Duncan

[Saffy]

Well they are certainly short and in my garden alone come in both red and black!!!

Stephanie :laugh: