Outdoor Elements
So Many Ants!
Clip | 1m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
A swarm of ants can collectively find the shortest, easiest path to the best food source o
Next time you see a swarm of ants, watch closely!A swarm of ants can collectively find the shortest, easiest path to the best food source or locate a new nesting site.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Outdoor Elements is a local public television program presented by PBS Michiana
Outdoor Elements
So Many Ants!
Clip | 1m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
Next time you see a swarm of ants, watch closely!A swarm of ants can collectively find the shortest, easiest path to the best food source or locate a new nesting site.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Outdoor Elements
Outdoor Elements is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipYou ever notice how warm weather seems to bring out the ants?
Sometimes you may have noticed on sidewalks swarms of little tiny dark ants between the cracks on the sidewalks or on your driveway, or even in the middle of the trail, like this swarm of pavement ants as they're sometimes known as.
That I found on a trail in a nearby hiking area.
Entomologists think that pavement ants may swarm when the colony gets large enough that they have to relocate to a new area.
Or perhaps they're swarming because there is a need for more food and other scouts in the swarm will forage out into farther areas to see if they can find sweet items or greasy items, anything that they can use for a food source.
As the colony grows, the need for food becomes insatiable.
All the larva and the eggs are underground.
But these workers are above ground, likely looking for a new place to make their nest or a new source of food.
So next time you're out hiking on a sunny sidewalk or a sunny trail in a park near you, see if you can find some squirming caveman ants.
Remember, you can find your own outdoor elements when you visit area parks and nature centers
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 2s | Take a winter walk with us at Fernwood Botanical Garden! (3m 2s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 20s | 🦉🌲 WHOO was here? While walking along a wooded path, Evie came across a mysterious p (4m 20s)
Barking Up the Right Tree: Norway Maple
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 30s | No description (4m 30s)
Don't Toss Those Holiday Lights! | OE
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 8m 25s | 🎄✨ Got holiday lights that no longer sparkle? Don’t toss them! ♻️ In this ep (8m 25s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 38s | 🍂✨ Out on a fall walk in the woods, Evie stumbled upon a sweet seasonal surprise — (3m 38s)
Urban Transformation at Milkweed Gardens
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 17m 11s | No description (17m 11s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 11m 50s | 🌿🖊️ It’s time to slow down and connect with nature! In this episode of Outdoor E (11m 50s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 20s | 🐔👀 There’s a possum in the hen house! 🐾 On this episode of Outdoor Elements, E (3m 20s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 2m 57s | 🍁 It’s that time of year when nature puts on its most colorful show! 🌳 In this epi (2m 57s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 36s | 🌿🪲One of our awesome viewers spotted a beetle making its way across the driveway and (3m 36s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 24s | A viewer shared a fascinating video of a Paintedhand Mudbug, and Evie dives into the detai (3m 24s)
Pretty in Pink for Pollinators
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 3s | At Lydick Bog Nature Preserve, Evie spots a burst of pink in a wetland. She explores these (5m 3s)
Another Milkweed Specialist: Milkweed Tussock Moth
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 36s | No description (4m 36s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 43s | Evie spotted Pointed-leaf Tick-Trefoil and shares how to identify this plant. (3m 43s)
The Unique Flowers of Buttonbush
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 58s | Evie finds Buttonbush at Spicer Lake Nature Preserve (3m 58s)
Saving Ash Trees, One Tree at a Time
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 11m 16s | No description (11m 16s)
Bringing Bees Back to the Nature Center
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 6m 10s | No description (6m 10s)
Gathering for Science: An Environmental Research Symposium
Clip | 10m 27s | Evie stops by the St. Joseph County Public Library during their Earth Day celebration to c (10m 27s)
Surprising Color in the Woods: Blue Stain Fungi
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 48s | No description (3m 48s)
Maple Sweet Treat for Ants | Outdoor Elements
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 1m 34s | A sweet surprise in the woods! (1m 34s)
Evil Greens of Spring with Garry Harrington
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 12m 56s | Things are greening up in the spring woods, but it’s not necessarily a welcome sight. (12m 56s)
Volunteers Help Build a Healthier Trail
Clip | 6m 9s | At Lydick Bog Nature Preserve, volunteers make a big difference in protecting and maintain (6m 9s)
Art, Sun and Science: Botanical Cyanotypes
Clip | 6m 49s | Experimenting with cyanotype fabric brings nature to life in beautiful, sun-printed design (6m 49s)
Clip | 3m 57s | Evie shares a fun and simple craft idea using autumn leaves that the whole family can enjo (3m 57s)
Late Summer Colors of Poison Sumac
Clip | 1m 59s | Watch out for this colorful danger at Lydick Bog Nature Preserve! (1m 59s)
What's THIS? Bewildering Blob in the Water
Clip | 5m 8s | What’s that mysterious blob in the water (5m 8s)
Clip | 7m 14s | Find out how thousands of volunteers help the US Geological Survey teams and other resourc (7m 14s)
Meet Up with Kam and Chevy: Black People Outside
Clip | 5m 18s | Meet the inspiring creators behind Black People Outside. (5m 18s)
Surprise! It's American Columbo
Clip | 5m 14s | Explore the unique features of the American Columbo. Discover its habitat, appearance, and (5m 14s)
Searching for Snakes: Researching Populations
Clip | 13m | Delve into the world of snake population research in northern Indiana and discover the met (13m)
On the Trail for Lizard's Tail
Clip | 3m 10s | We are at @SpicerLakeNaturePreserve to learn about the fascinating plant known as Lizard's (3m 10s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Support for PBS provided by:
Outdoor Elements is a local public television program presented by PBS Michiana