ANTSTORE World of Ants

[HugoMorse]

I am quite interested in the Formicarium Ant Display Box I but the picture does not make it clear on how it is set up.

Is it possible you can explain how this ant farm works and maybe put a basic diagram to make it easier to understand.

Also, when will this set-up be available?

I notice that you are also offering it as ANTSTORE starter set 2.

Thank you.

[Martin S.]

Hello HugoMorse,

This Formicarium is a antfarm with finished ways for the ants.
Over the two points on the antfarm can make the nest wet.
The big box on the ground is for food or waste, you can open it with a sliding lid.

Greetings Martin

[HugoMorse]

Hi Martin,

Thanks for the quick reply. Just to confirm, the ridges I can see in the picture are actually tubes for the ants to travel to and from the arena and to other parts of the nest?

Do the tubes connect the front and back slabs?

How do you fill the farm with sand?

How do you water it? - it is not obvious how you water through the holes without the sand coming out or the ants escaping.

What is the distance between the slabs and what are the dimensions of the unit?

Do you have any better photo's to show - ideally with sand already in it and ants?

I am very interested but would like to know more detailed information before buying due to the costs. Thanks.

[Martin S.]

Just to confirm, the ridges I can see in the picture are actually tubes for the ants to travel to and from the arena and to other parts of the nest? Do the tubes connect the front and back slabs?

- It is not a extern connection, only from the box to the nest.

How do you fill the farm with sand?

- here you need not a ground in the farm, but you can give sand into the box.

How do you water it? - it is not obvious how you water through the holes without the sand coming out or the ants escaping.

- over the dark holes in the farm with a splashes .

What is the distance between the slabs and what are the dimensions of the unit?

- 4-5 mms

Do you have any better photo's to show - ideally with sand already in it and ants?

- sorry no, it is a new product

Greetings Martin

[HugoMorse]

Ah, so it is a dirt less set-up.

Do you know when you can put better photo's up. I am very interested but would like to see it in action first.

Thanks

[Martin S.]

Which detail do you want see? I can make for you a Photo.

Greetings Martin

[HugoMorse]

Hi Martin,

Thank you. A bigger photo of the nest section would be ideal and if you could add text to the photo to explain the different area then would be great.

Thanks again.

[Martin S.]

Here for you a extra photo:
1) The hole (way) frome the box to the nest
2) The water reservoir

[HugoMorse]

Thanks Martin, that makes it look much clearer now...

So the nest is actually a solid slab of plastic with the finished ways cut into it?

The water reservoir is just a circular section cut into the plastic that is filled with cotton wool?

You just dampen the cotton wool from the back of the unit to add moisture to the nest?

It looks good and I am interested, but my only concern is that the queen likes moisture so may keep the eggs and lavae on the cotton wool. In my experience, after a couple of weeks, the cotton wool gets dirty from their faeces and food particles and goes mouldy. If the queen and eggs and larvae are nesting in it, it will make it difficult to change the cotton wool without disrupting the nest and having eggs, etc. still attached.

What has been your experience of using this and what species have you tried in it.

Has the queens tended to nest on or next to the cotton wool?

Thank you and good to see creative thinking.

I was considering it for Lasius Flavus.

[HugoMorse]

Hi Martin,

Hav you had time to test it?

Thanks

[Martin S.]

So the nest is actually a solid slab of plastic with the finished ways cut into it?

- yes

The water reservoir is just a circular section cut into the plastic that is filled with cotton wool?

- yes, it's normal cotton wool?

You just dampen the cotton wool from the back of the unit to add moisture to the nest?

- yes, it is very easily with a syringe.

It looks good and I am interested, but my only concern is that the queen likes moisture so may keep the eggs and lavae on the cotton wool. In my experience, after a couple of weeks, the cotton wool gets dirty from their faeces and food particles and goes mouldy. If the queen and eggs and larvae are nesting in it, it will make it difficult to change the cotton wool without disrupting the nest and having eggs, etc. still attached.

- you can exchange the cotton wool.

What has been your experience of using this and what species have you tried in it.
Has the queens tended to nest on or next to the cotton wool?

- the queen usually sits near the cotton wool.

I hope I have understood the questions correctly.

Greetings Martin