We started the day off like any other day of the Costa Rica trip, with science. This science session consisted of finally starting off our ant experiments. Each group had started with their hypothesis, prediction and scientific experiment. As each group brainstormed a long list of questions, all groups struggled with coming to a final topic of future research. After a solid hour, each group had finally made a decision and started to develop their idea further.
After eating a hearty Costa Rican lunch, the whole group was bussed to a horse ranch in which we all were assigned an individual horse to ride for the next two hours. The horseback ride was an adventure to say the least. Starting our ride out on the rocky road and slowly making our way onto the top of a nearby volcano, providing views that were breathtaking. Considering the night before had presented us with the loudest storm we had heard since our arrival, the paths were turned to mud, thus making it a very slippery ride for us and our horses. At one point in the ride, everyone had to dismount their horses and lead them safely down the muddy trail.Safely returning to the horse ranch, we were then bussed back to Finca la Anita and made our daily trip to the towns general store, the Poparia (Po-pa-REE-ah). After dinner, the first years made their way into the classroom to present their hypothesis and what their future research will hold.
Here is the most aggressive type of snake in Costa Rica that Carlos had stomped out while picking pineapples.
After the presentations, the rest of the group headed off to bed. As we sit here being bombarded with moths and mosquitoes, Dr. Andrew Bouwma spotted a unique bug named the Peanut Headed Bug, but our bug adventures had not yet ended for the day. We sat down to write the blog when suddenly Jack swiped a bug off of his neck onto the floor, seeing it being the treacherous Bullet Ant Queen known for its sting and bite to feel like being shot with a bullet (hence the name). We then spotted another Bullet Ant Queen and ended both of their short lives with a swift blow from McKenna's blue plaid notebook.
Starting from left: Adam, Jack, Taylor
Hopefully we will not be killed by any other exotic ants we are unaware of as we walk back to our cabin. But we would like to let our parents know that if we are missing, we love them very much and we send our apologies for not being better equipped.
According to wikipedia:
ReplyDelete"Two studies in Costa Rica and on Barro Colorado Island (BCI) found about four bullet ant nests per hectare of forest. On BCI, the nests were found under 70 species of trees, six species of shrubs, two species of lianas and one species of palm. Nests were most common beneath the canopies of Faramea occidentalis and Trichilia tuberculata, but these trees are also the most abundant in the forest. Nests were present more frequently than would be expected based on the abundance of the trees under Alseis blackiana, Tabernaemontana arborea, Virola sebifera, Guaria guidonia and Oecocarpus mapoura. "
So just be careful around those trees (you know what they look like, right? :) and hopefully no one will get shot by a bullet ant.
Or--just carry one of those wolf spiders in your pocket or on top of your hat and let it take care of any unwanted insects that get too close.
Either way, it sounds like Costa Rica is Ant Central!
Are there any other research projects going on in the area besides those being conducted by the intrepid scientists from Wayzata?