Thanks to the efforts of two hardworking and dedicated undergraduates students, Gabriel T. Vanin and Miguel P. Pereira-Romeiro, we now are able to compare the natural history of two carpenter ants, Camponotus renggeri and C. rufipes. Jointly, for many months, they lead a team of voluntaries (nature-enthusiasts friends) to study how these insects nest and to describe their home-ranges and activity schedule. The results are now out as a preprint here, and we will soon submit it to a peer-reviewed journal.
Not reported elsewhere are the reasons why we could not continue the work in the field. As countless projects worldwide, we were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this was
not the main nor the first obstacle that blocked our efforts. Our team lead by both students faced not only the rainiest season in the last 27 years, but they were approached
by people carrying
firearms. Twice! To secure the safety we had to halt our project.
Despite all possible planning, during fieldwork, countless challenges appear. Unfortunately, not all of them we are able to manage, and deal with. The outcomes of our project on natural history of these ants were not as complete as we planned, but, certainly, they are the best results we could obtain.
Great great job, Miguel and Gabriel!!! Also, Marianne has played a key role co-advising them, coming up with the scientific question we addressed, and working in the field with us.