Boffins fix bug problem

ANT COLONIES can now be explored virtually – the day we’ve all been waiting for is finally here.

That’s right, Myrmecologists (ant geeks) have now come up with a way to use ground-penetrating radar to map out ant colonies – and it’s cheap too.

Previous methods, such as scraping away soil layers and pouring casting material into the nests have not only been expensive, but also disturb the ants in their habitat [Let me fill your house up with plaster of Paris while you're still in it and let's see how 'disturbed' you feel - Sub Ed].

Dr Carol LaFayette, who’s leading the project, says that, "Leafcutting ant nests can hold a three-storey house — the rural legend is that tractors can disappear into them” — which is why exploring them is so interesting.

So, in order to safeguard all vulnerable tractors out there, geoscientists have come up with this unobtrusive way to view the ants’ home.

Visitors who want to see the display can put on a pair of ant-cam glasses and view the virtual colony as an ant would.

This new visualisation system, developed by Texas professor Frederic Parke, is a lot cheaper than previous methods, by using off-the-shelf hardware it’s an insect-sized price at just £16,000. We'll have two, then.

Dr LaFayette recons that, "When you're standing in front of the system and viewing these tunnel structures, it's quite colourful, quite beautiful" – I think we’ll leave that one for you to decide yourself. µ