ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Gulaas]

Hi,

I am after some very fine mesh or netting that I can get in the UK, I have tried looking on the internet but its all way to big and I dont want a huge ammount! Postage costs are too high from ant store so I wonder if anyone has come across anything suitable in a DIY store or online. I will be using it to keep Lasius niger and Myrmica rubra from escaping.

Thanks!

[Zagone]

My Lasius niger could get through the fine mesh that comes with the AntStore basins. :/ But it seemed like it was sort of and accident since they didn't exactly do it on a daily basis.

[JimmyVe]

You could use mesh like they use in the tank of cars (to filter the fuel).

[insanebe]

can't you just use a peice of clothe

[JimmyVe]

Most ants can chew through a piece of clothe. (depends on what you use, but if it is to thick it will not let the air circulate much)

[SteveUK28]

or you could go onto ebay and get a pane of plexi

[Gulaas]

Thanks for all the suggestions, regarding the PTFE, I have 2 bottles but my ants are already in the nest so I dont really know how to apply it without causing too much fuss. I have been using vasaline on the top but its messy and annoying! Plus I have seen a few posts saying many ants just walk over it or get stuck. I am thinking of just getting a bit of foil on top and putting loads of pin holes in it as trying to find a material that offers ventilation and keeps my ants in is hard!

[gabranth]

i have Myrmica rubra and they can't walk over it should be the same with Lasius niger do you have loads of ants?

[SteveUK28]

now thats weird... my Myrmica rubra walk straight over vaseline!

[Gulaas]

No I only have around 50 Lasius niger and I mentioned the Mymica as I am going to get them when they come back in stock at Ant store. I am yet to see them get past the vasaline but I dont want to wait and find out!

[SteveUK28]

Gulaas.. if you send me a PM i might be able to get you a colony of Myrmica now.

[JimmyVe]

Could be that some ants can walk over the PTFE but it never happened with any of my ants, only when it was time to refresh the PTFE. I also always use lids (if possible), that way you have two things to keep your ants inside.

[Zagone]

Btw, if you keep a plexi lid, make sure you don't have a heating lamp too close to it, or it will expand, espceially if confined by edges, a frame or screws etc. Plexi expands quite alot for lower temperatures which I noticed with my first wooden nest I made, which had a plexi front.

(The wood molded later, so was a good thing I didn't use it.)

[JimmyVe]

And make sure there is still a way for fresh air to come in and old air to go out.

[akell]

I have a piece of .2mm mesh left over. It's 10x 17cm plus a little off cut. I could post it to you if you want. Or Paraffin oil maybe? It is working well for my basins so far.