Ants around Feathertop!

[Ironfox]

Anyone familiar with the Bogong High Plains will naturally also be familiar with the accompanying multitude of ants that magically rise up out of ground to spoil your lunch as you relax on the grass. However, my experience up near Feathertop yesterday was a first. A day walk up Bungalow and then up on to the summit was superb under cloudless blue skies and the action of the helicopter hauling the toilet pods in and out at Fed hut was exciting to see. I then walked down to MUMC and was shocked to find so many ants. As soon as you stood still they engulfed your shoes and then worked their way up your legs. I strode into the hut for some respite but was equally shocked to see ants everywhere - floor, bench seats, window ledges. There was no way you could have camped either in or outside the hut. I'm presuming the weather is the cause (as I have never seen this on m previous 10 or so trips to the hut) with so much rain falling recently. The next 500m down NW Spur was no better - you HAD to keep moving to avoid the ants. Additional notes: the springs at old Fed Hut site and Tom Kneen track below Feathertop were pumping. Fed Hut tank however is only 1/3 full according to Parks as they are replacing roof guttering. Apparently only half the hut was collecting the recent rainfall. Also, the day finished with an inglorious bum slide/shimmy over the log at Stoney Creek such was the force of water!

[Baeng72]

I've been attacked by teleporting ants (weren't there a moment before) at the old Bungalow Hut ruins when I sat down on the foundations for a break and something to eat.
That was in March a few years ago, not rain related.
Crossing Stony Creek by the log sounds bad! No thanks!

[Avatar]

Yeah, ants rule. Had my summit campsite plans adjusted by formicating ants at Stirling and KNP near Townsend.

[Baeng72]

Yeah, ants rule. Had my summit campsite plans adjusted by formicating ants at Stirling and KNP near Townsend.

That tickles the linguistic bone. In Latin, the word Formica means Ant. So you're plans were adjusted by anting Ants.
[You probably meant that when you typed it, but had to comment.]
Now if you meant fornicating, I have no comment.

[Avatar]

AI is saying: "Formicate" can also be used as a verb to mean to crawl around like ants or to swarm with ants or other crawling things. So swarming.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The Grey Hills in Summer are terrible for ants.

[scroggin]

I for one welcome our new insect overlords

[Baeng72]

AI is saying: "Formicate" can also be used as a verb to mean to crawl around like ants or to swarm with ants or other crawling things. So swarming.

No problem. I got the idea, just my warped brain and the weird connections it makes.

[Baeng72]

I for one welcome our new insect overlords

Classic Simpsons! I think I've derailed this thread with my musings. Apologies!

https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSimpsons/co ... rlords_id/

[Camminata]

+ 1 Grey Hills ants are vicious little bar stards!

[Avatar]

AI is saying: "Formicate" can also be used as a verb to mean to crawl around like ants or to swarm with ants or other crawling things. So swarming.

No problem. I got the idea, just my warped brain and the weird connections it makes.

No worries. Why aren't the echidnas exploiting these locations? Or are they?

[Lophophaps]

I've never seen ants as described above, and will do my best to avoid them.

No worries. Why aren't the echidnas exploiting these locations? Or are they?

That made me think of an ad from decades ago, Sic 'em, Rex.
https://www.mediaweek.com.au/the-ads-th ... y-rabbits/

[Biggles]

'Tis the season to be antsy...

The NE is no doubt a favoured haunt for abundant creepy-crawlies, though I see plenty more where I am in central Vic!
A week in Bright walking, road cycling and MTBing turns up the usual suspects pulling up for a wee or munchie break: ants (bullants), spiders (huntsman, tarantula), march flies (Feathertop and around Hotham), large spiny caterpillars, even larger tiger snakes and add to the mad mix, what looked like a scorpion on a tree along the Morses Creek trail. A scorpion? In Bright!?

I wasn't bothered by ants on my Feathertop walk (heat, then rain, then wind, cool, rinse and repeat), though four snakes (blacks) were seen. Would recommend gaiters for that walk (as I had) — definitely not Dunlop Volleys (sans-socks!) as one seemingly ill-equipped (O/S backpacker?) hiker chose.