The flat ants slowly turn into 3-D felt ants, all gathering around a sign reading “Big-Headed Ants.” This sign brings visitors that much closer to the real thing: an ant colony exhibit with a live colony living and working inside.
“The exhibit itself is all about science via observations,” said Aleisha Kropf, animal exhibit manager at WonderLab.
Kropf said the exhibit, which took more than two years to design, obtain licenses for and complete, will be a featured exhibit at WonderLab until March but will maintain a permanent part of its collection.
The exhibit consists of a large table with five separate boxes connected by clear tubes, she said. Four of those boxes have magnifying cameras positioned inside so visitors can see the ants both in person and on the screen.
Children and adults alike stopped at the exhibit to observe the three foraging sites and one nesting location where the queen resides. They watched as ants hurried back and forth between boxes. They peered through the glass, using laminated cards to learn about the colony’s organization, features of the exhibit and more.
A young girl asked Kropf how she can find the queen ant, and Kropf replied by pointing out the nesting location and saying she will have to be patient and observant in order to catch a glimpse of the queen.
The separation of the boxes forces the ants to remain contained, allowing people to watch as they move things around.
She said people can gain insight into the ants’ ?complex social system through the exhibit.
One example of this ?offered by the exhibit is seeing ants fed. This is an interesting part of watching what they do in the giant habitat, Kropf said.
“There’s a lot to learn,” she said.
That is why every Saturday the ants will be fed at ?1 p.m.
To feed the ants, Kropf unlocks each of the three boxes one at a time, first using an eye dropper to deposit water and then sugar water.
The difference is sugar water is like liquid energy for the ants, she said. It is similar to what ants would get from a plant.
Volunteers Fran Weinberg and Jeanne Kessell ask questions about the exhibit, experiencing the same intrigue as both adult and children visitors.
Children repeatedly approach Kropf, asking questions and trying to get a closer look at what she ?is doing.
Kropf also deposits a live meal worm, which the ants will tear apart and eat.
“It’s a grisly little ?business,” she said.
As Kropf finishes feeding the ants, people continue to pass by, slowing down to peek into the ?ants’ world.
Though the ants are fed daily, she said setting this time allows for people to come in and observe ?the process.
Kropf said any time people can observe and interact with a natural system is beneficial.
“You can transfer what you learn to many, many areas,” she said.
Observing ants like this also cultivates a sense of wonder in children, teaching them about nature and forcing them to slow down and patiently look at this completely functional ?system, she said.
“I would encourage people to be open-minded,” Kropf said, noting that even though ants tend to have a bad reputation, they are still fascinating ?creatures.
After she finishes feeding the ants, Kropf packs up the tray and prepares to bring it back downstairs.
“I think it’s really ?beautiful,” she said.
