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Mr_Jason: Newbie Question (11. Apr 2008 04:39)

Hello all,
I'm brand new to ant keeping. I started reading all the great info on this forum a week ago. I built a panoramic farm basin formicarium (I live in the states and can't seem to find a place to buy a decent formicarium). Anyway, I captured a queen ghost ant (Tapinoma melanocephalum), 25 workers and 15 eggs. They started making a nest about a 1/2 inch deep. I put a board in front of the nest to keep light out. I came home today and they made a chamber for the queen below the original tunnel. I saw her and the new eggs clearly :D . The chamber was very open. I put the board back in place after a quick look. I came back 10 minutes later and they covered the queens chamber with dirt on viewing side :cry: . My question is, how can I view the tunnels and chambers without scarring the ants into covering them with dirt?

Thanks in advance,
Jason

tail__: (11. Apr 2008 07:58)

Ants probably remember this part of nest was exposed to light and they covered it even when the light was gone. Maybe you should use another type of formicarium, e.g. cork or ytong, but it's possible the ants would feel too stressed when exposed into light. That is usual problem with ants captured from natural nests, they hate light and will do everything to cover themselves. It's much better to get a fresh queen after nuptial flight, she isn't photophobic yet and new workers born in light would also treat it as normal.

Maybe you could use red glass or rather attach red foil to existing formicarium, this way ants won't see the light.

JimmyVe: (11. Apr 2008 17:45)

Hello Mr_Jason and welcome.

The best way is to use the red foil (like tail said) that way the ants don't see the light. (ants can not see red light)