@CE:
Hymenopterans? You an entomologist? Hm, sound like the local hymenopterans are illiterate, that's not a good thing, maybe you should try to educate them?
LOL
No, I'm not an entomologist, though I might be considered an informed layman. I have considered offering reading courses to this insect order before, but I can never seem to manage to get my foot in the door, so to speak, to see the queens. The guards like to sting first, and ask questions later.
Since I spent a good deal of my childhood in the Philippines, I had the opportunity to study a wide assortment of insects - not to mention reptiles - that sparked my interest later in life. I've done a good deal of reading on the subject, and had a little practical experience when I was in the pest control field for a few years. Ants have earned my respect and admiration.
Did you hear about the supercolony of Argentine ants they discovered in Europe?
@Georgi:
Really, where from?
Ok, so we do get decent weather sometimes... but it would be nice if it was sunny for more than a few days at a time You'll have to let me know if you come and visit (though if it's between this August and next September, I won't be here, yay! )
Many years ago, my father's grandmother did some research, and discovered that James Hargreaves, the inventor of the Spinning Jenny in late 18th century England, was an ancestor of ours. He died penniless, the result of his mill being burned down by an angry mob of cottage industry people, and so his family sought better fortunes in America. Another relative, Barry Hargreaves, was a gold smuggler who was sentenced to the (then) penal colony of Australia.
Our family name - Hargraves - is an Ellis island mispelling of "Hargreaves." (both pronounced identically) American English drops the "e before a" out of most words you British include them in. However, since I've read a number of British authors - and was raised referring to a wonderful set of Encyclopaedia Britannica - I'm familiar with the Queen's English.
After James, I'm not sure what blood relatives I have there (so I wouldn't know where they're located). I suppose if I got in touch with the proper British sources, I could follow leads all the way to the present. The only other info I obtained from the source I used here stateside was a coat of arms awarded to Hargreaves in the 14th century or so. Not too uncommon.
