DEL MAR: Ants find their own fair treat, butterfly larvae

By JOHN RAIFSNIDER - For the North County Times | Thursday, July 3, 2008 10:54 PM PDT ∞

DEL MAR ---- Despite her best efforts, Jennifer Galey said Thursday, she couldn't keep ants from devouring two complete batches of larvae that were supposed to turn into beautiful butterflies just in time for the three-week run of the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar.

The first larvae batch fell victim to the six-legged marauders at Galey's Cardiff-by-the-Sea home, a little more than a week before the fair's June 14 opening.

Galey said she thought she had found a way to prevent a repeat of the fine dining experience she inadvertently provided for the red pests by using a water-moat system in her colorful display on the infield section of the fairgrounds.

But the ants worked like, well, ants and discovered a way to get to the second batch of larvae the first night Galey left them in her fairgrounds display.

"This infield section is basically an anthill, and I knew that, I've been working here for 13 years, so I know they have everything they need to thrive over here," said Galey, as she looked at an empty chrysalis that once held a butterfly larva.

"I should have known better ---- I do know better ---- I just thought the moat system I had worked on would keep them from getting to the larva, but it didn't. Those ants were industrious; I'll give ‘em that. They worked hard to figure out a way over my moat and to get to the larva."

Galey said she tried to find more larvae, but couldn't, and even if she had, "they never would have developed before the end of the fair, in time for the schoolchildren to see them turn into butterflies."

Undaunted, Galey says she will try again next year.

"I think I know how we're going to keep the ants away next time," she said. "Lots of people have made a number of suggestions. and I think I'm going to put a few of those ideas to use in next year's display, but it's going to take a lot more water."

Over on the second floor of the fairgrounds' Exhibition Hall, Viola Sullivan and other members of the Bead Society of San Diego County were busy as bees working with ant-sized beads, making pendants and bracelets.

Sullivan, Jan Spencley, and Ann and Stan Rosier were at the hall to demonstrate their craftiness with glass, plastic and stone beads and to spread the "Beady Word" to fairgoers about the 150-member club that meets monthly at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park.

"We're a fun group of people who like to work with beads and have a good time visiting with others," said Sullivan, a past president of the society.

For more information about the Bead Society of San Diego County, log on to its Web site at www.sdbeadsociety.org.

At the opposite end of Exhibition Hall, some of the most unusual collections by county residents are on display.

Randy McNutt of San Diego has hundreds of soccer referee pins he's collected on display in a glass case.

Nearby is an assortment of antique penny banks owned by Jamul's Leroy D. Berglund, who seemingly has taken the advice of "a penny saved is a penny earned."

Then there's the display of dozens of wind-up travel clocks owned by Joanne Costanzo of Santee. Joanne, one could say, has "lots of time on her hands."

Diana De Vito of San Diego has one of the more interesting collections ---- dozens of ballpoint pens from drug manufacturing companies.

No word on whether any of them can improve a doctor's handwriting.

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