ANTSTORE World of Ants

[ratgreen]

why dont you sell the niger/nylanderi marc or give them for free if someone is willing to pay for postage?

off topic: i still dont fully understand the 'cant see red' concept. could you use any old red ~acetate~?(see through plastic) or does it have to be the red pvc plastic foil they sell here. i love the idea of red lights that would be sweet and i love doing electronics so it would be great.

[JimmyVe]

Most insects can not see red light. (some can)
As long if it turns the daylight into red light it should work just fine.

[marc.tulley]

Well if any one wanted my rubra, nigrx2 or nylanderi they are more than welcome! (for free)
Although i dont know how i would post them so i suppose collection would be the only option?

Yeah the red light one is weird, ill trust your word then jimmy thanks for explaining it.

Yeah so the red LEDs in each chamber shouldnt (if at all) annoy them much.

As soon as my bulk of Uni work is done ill get making

[marc.tulley]

more pics!
lignis actually luv peas!


Took the dumba$$ like 20min to find the entrance!


My little 2 ligni queens in 1 working a treat! look at those lil lezbos!


Got my electric saw today aswell so started preparing the new nest for the two ligniperda queens:

[SteveUK28]

i really like the tree idea marc, how are you gonna cover it?? Glass im guessin.. i sooo should have done that with mine.. but i wanted it natural for them.

[marc.tulley]

Im gonna cover the front in red plastic as i can cut that to the exact outline of the log although red is permanent (wont slide off like my other 2 as the ants will have access to the front)
it will make visibility a little crap but for the ants sake, like you i wanted it as natural as possible with max visibilty

also i got my red prewired LEDs this morning hoping to have at least one in the top front corners of every chamber which should be cool

=> edit Mod
Post from 10:25am

+ do you guys recon i should expand the nest into 1 or 2 of the branches? i just want to give them as much growing room as possible as im sure they will grow out of anything eventually.
Or shall i just build a huge one when its getting filled to the brim in a few years?

You could change your messages (or edit) until the next day

[SteveUK28]

what you could do is somat like i did.. try n cut the branches in half hollow them out n silicone them back together an drill holes in them so the ants can get in.. But then cover them with some cotton wool.. easy future expansion...

[4mykids]

I would keep it simple Marc, you are doing great they way you have it.

They would only collect in the middle I would guess anyway.

Good work on this one my man.

[JimmyVe]

The farm you are making looks really nice. Good luck with it.

btw: at the one pictures the ants are just feeding each other. Don't get wired ideas about it.

[ratgreen]

lol at the picture description. yer dont bother making more chambers it will jus get more complecated. its really good as it is

[marc.tulley]

ok thx for the feedback guys , ill call it a day with that many chambers

i hooked up a few leds yesterday with red plastic infront and it looks so sweet! Cant wait to show you when its all together!

and i forgot , turn your imagination parts of your brain on now.
They shouldnt go to the middle as i am planning on drilling holes in pathways through to the back of the log and insert dowel rods in to go all the way through to the plastic front and when they get big enough in the top 2 chambers I will pull the dowel out slightly from the back revieling more and more chambers too them.
Good idea? I just dont want them starting off feeling insecure in this huge nest when there is only a few of them....

[ratgreen]

that sounds perfect, would you pull them out a bit and then cut the piece of dowel sticking out off. get those led pics up as i am thinking of doing that too. i currently look at my messor's buy using a red led light and a watch battery as the light can get through the red plastic really well and gives you a great view.

[4mykids]

Sounds like an excellent idea. You picked an awsome trunk to work with there - lots of room and potential.

[marc.tulley]

yeah pull the dowel out a bit and snip it off , exactly mate

I rwally wanna get it all done but its coursework and exam time at uni. we will have to try and be patient

[marc.tulley]

its taking shape, got the wiring running stealth down the back. Chiselled out slots for the wiring and sealed them in with brown sealant and recovered in bits of bark

having the lights in 3 sets of parrellel connection with toggle switches to choose which are lit

currently wired the top two and the rest are on another connection:


can you guys shed your opinion on wheather i have a 9V battery running them (like in picture) or off mains? (i have a 5V and 12V adapter)

the battery would be best i think as long as it lasts, surely 12 LEDs wont drain a 9V'er that quick?