Ant Farm Co-Inventor Uncle Milton Dies At 97 In Thousand Oaks

Milton Levine, co-inventor of the classic Ant Farm toy that sold over 20 millions copies and gave countless of intrigued youngsters a look underground at the secret life of bugs, has died at age 97. Levine died of natural causes at an assisted-care facility in Thousand Oaks on Jan 16, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The inspiration for the classic American toy, according to the LA Times, was a 4th of July "parade of ants" at a Studio City picnic in 1956 that reminded him of collecting the creatures as a child. He recalled stating that he wanted to make an "antarium."

With the help of his brother-in-law, E. J. Cossman, Levine built a transparent habitat using two plastic panes and a green frame with a farm scene that allowed people to watch ants dig tunnels through the sand. Ant collectors were said to have received a penny per pet to wrangle red harvester ants from the Mojave Desert and send them, by mail, to Levine.