ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Lawrence]

I have a glass formicarium that I previously kept a colony of rubra in.

I want to re-use this for a new colony of Lasius flavus.

q. Do I need to steralize the loam? as there a few bits of fungus in some of the chambers.

Regards
Lawrence

[uta]

Before you give the new colony Lasius flavus in the glass formicarium, you should clean it well. If you liked to use the old loam-/sandmixture, so I would like to recommend to 'sterilize' this in the oven with high temperature.

However, better it would be, if you take sand-/loammixture new.

regards

[Cephalothorax]

I´m of the same opinion as uta...
It´ll be much better to sterilize it! Just put it into the oven at at least 200°C for at least 15min. Then you can use it again!

Do you keep them in an antfarm or just in an earth nest?
Flavus won´t come out as much as rubra does... ...just keep that in mind!

[Lawrence]

Thanks for the replies,

I just went to start cleaning the glass and noticed that there are still a few rubra left, so all is not lost.

I may try and revive them and put the Lasius flavus in somthing else.

Regards
Lawrence

[Lawrence]

I made a new Enclosure at the weekend from an old double glazing unit.

I took some photos as I went along in case others want to try the same.

1. I used a diamond scribe to score the glass on both sides.


2. Next I flexed the unit on each side until the glass broke.


3. Then using a diamond knife sharpner I removed the sharp edges from the glass.

This very important as the glass is very sharp. (Use Gloves)

4. The unit is now ready to fill with soil.


5. Fill with loam and sand mix.


If you want to fit a tube you can drill a hole in through the side level with the top of the soil.

Regards
Lawrence

[Cephalothorax]

How big is it?

Seems to be pretty big, though!

I think your Flavus spread as much as they want...

You´ll not need to let them move the next few years...

...but I hope, you´ll give them an arena for feeding and stuff?!?

Greetings from Germany