Thirteen-year-old James Wingert found his inspiration for ant-keeping through AntsCanada. CTV News
Ants, the tiny insects we often overlook, are stepping into the spotlight as ant-keeping grows into a popular hobby in Canada. With enthusiasts transforming parts of their homes into intricate ant farms, this activity is quickly gaining traction nationwide, mirroring trends in Europe and Asia.
According to Zachary Liu, the owner of Canada Ant Colony, ant-keeping is one of the fastest-growing hobbies globally. Liu estimates that Canada now has between 20,000 and 30,000 ant-keeping enthusiasts, and he believes the number is steadily increasing. Popular platforms like YouTube have also fueled interest, with channels such as AntsCanada drawing in viewers through engaging, high-quality videos that showcase the fascinating lives of ant colonies.
For some, the hobby begins young. Thirteen-year-old James Wingert, inspired by AntsCanada, started ant-keeping two years ago. Though his first colony of 20 worker ants didn’t survive, James remains determined. Now, he’s nurturing four queen ants in test tubes, a queen with five workers, and another queen in a setup he designed himself.
Building an ant colony is surprisingly straightforward. Dr. James Glasier, an ecologist with the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, explains that enthusiasts can either dig up an ant nest or wait for the “nuptial flight” between July and September. During this time, mated queen ants shed their wings, making it easy to collect and house them in an ant farm. Once in a suitable environment, the queens begin laying eggs, and the colonies start to grow.
Starting an ant-keeping hobby doesn’t require much money or effort. Minimal costs and maintenance are part of the appeal, but it’s the ants’ fascinating social structures that captivate enthusiasts. Liu describes ant colonies as highly complex societies with behaviors that mirror human systems, such as rudimentary surgeries, medicinal practices, and even strategies resembling assassinations and slavery.
Wingert is equally intrigued by these miniature societies. He marvels at how each ant has a distinct role in their community and dreams of expanding his next colony to a thousand ants. “It’s fun to watch how their society works, with each ant focused on accomplishing its unique goal,” he said.
Ant-keeping isn’t just a fun pastime; it also holds scientific value. Dr. Glasier sees the hobby as beneficial for education and research but urges enthusiasts to source their ants responsibly. Importing non-native species could disrupt local ecosystems by reducing the diversity of native ant species and dominating available resources.
For many Canadians, ant-keeping offers a chance to connect with nature in a new way, blending education, curiosity, and a sense of wonder at the complexities of these tiny creatures.
