Welcome to Casa Hormiga

Casa Hormiga contains articles written by Randy Morgan, and soon, some by Steve Prchal and Ingo Hahn. Below Randy's articles you will find a link to ANTICS: A Living Art Installation and a page with links to other ant pages around the net. The site will continue to grow as time permits. Check back frequently if you are really into myrmecology - the study of ants.


Randy Morgan is the Associate Curator of Entomology of the Cincinnati Zoo's Insectarium. He is a prolific ant husbandrist and writer who has contributed many articles to SASI's Backyard BUGWatching as well as presenting annually at the Invertebrates In Captivity Conference. Below are a few of his contributions to myrmecology. You may find some of the articles cover similar subjects but they were written for different audiences and publication formats. Nonetheless, you will find much interesting information in each.

Giant Tropical Bullet Ant, Paraponera clavata, Natural History and Captive Management

Originally published in 1997 American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Regional Conference Proceedings


Quest for the Giant Tropical Bullet Ant Paraponera clavata

Originally a paper presentation, published in the 1996 Invertebrates in Captivity Conference Proceedings.

Honey I Swelled the Kids; Ambitious ants store liquid food for dry times

Originally published in Backyard BUGWatching #16, 1995

Giant Peruvian Dinosaur Ant Biology, Husbandry and Display

Originally published in 1993 Invertebrates in Captivity Conference Proceedings


Natural History Notes and Husbandry of the Peruvian Giant Ant, Dinoponera longipes (Hymenoptera:Formicidae).

Originally a paper presentation, published in the 1993 Invertebrates in Captivity Conference Proceedings.

Leaf-Cutting Ants on Parade

Originally published in Backyard BUGWatching #13, 1991


Natural History and Captive Management of Leaf-Cutting Ants in the Genus Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Originally a paper presentation, published in the 1991 Annual Conference Proceedings, American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums

Biology, Husbandry and Display of the Diurnal Honey Ant
Myrmecocystus mendax Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Originally a paper presentation, published in the 2004 Invertebrates in Captivity Conference Proceedings.


Antics - A Living Art Installation

was an exploration of science, natural history and visual art focusing on three species of ants from the Sonoran Desert. The collaboration of scientists, artists and craftspeople results in a multi-faceted experience for the viewer and provides a dialogue between art, science and the community.


Links to Other Ant Sites

Work continues. These pages progressed a bit more on 3/10/05