When it comes to ants, it is a small black insect that sometimes flies and loves sugar. But this is only a superficial idea of ββββthese amazing living creatures.
The article will not talk about a couple of annoying insects, but about creating a full-fledged do-it-yourself formicarium.
Ant species are different. But no matter what species is chosen for breeding, the same rules for creating a cozy anthill apply to everyone. Where to start?
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How to make a formicarium for ants?
As you can see from the photo, this is a special aquarium, an ant farm. They are different sizes, formats, with different content. Can be used as soil sand. From it, ants will build nests, create transitions and an arena.
Perfect fit finely sifted natural sand. Should stop using garden soil because it contains various bacteria and chemicals. It is permissible to use plaster. It is poured into a special mold, forming passages and minks. After hardening, the formicarium will be ready.
The third option is to use special gel. Insects will use the gel both for construction and as food.
Features of keeping domestic ants
An important component happy life ants is moisture. Its level varies from 80 to 90 percent.
The lack of moisture is equivalent to the death of the entire anthill. With an excess of moisture, fungus and mold can appear, which is also fatal. If perspiration appears on the walls of the formicaria, this is a sure sign that it is necessary to stop moisturizing for a while.
The required level of humidity is found out in a practical way.
For drinking you can put a small saucer in the anthill or tin cover from the bottle. Ants will use this water to moisten their homes and build new passages. It is important to remember that only filtered water can be given to ants.
In the vast majority of cases, suitable for ants room temperature, order 25 degrees Celsius. If the room is cool, then this will slow down the development of the ant farm. In such cases, it is advisable to use special lamps or heating pads. A terrarium thermometer will help you keep track of the correct temperature level.
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Ants feel best when moderate lighting. It is desirable to darken not only the chambers, but the entire formicarium.
Insects will also get used to open lighting, and quickly enough, but for comfortable life better to leave them in the shade. Especially harmful effect sunlight exerts on the larvae. Adults are also not recommended to be exposed to ultraviolet radiation for a long time.
If for some reason the owner needs formicarium lighting at home, experts recommend using moonlight lamp. Such a lamp will be able to warm the ants in a cool room and will not cause them stress.
What to feed the ants?
Contrary to popular belief, sugar is not the best food for ants. protein source worms and cockroaches can act. To provide carbohydrates, honey water is made by diluting 1:1. It is important to remember that such water can ferment quite quickly, and this is harmful to insects. As solid food suitable for ants: pieces of vegetables and fruits, bread crumbs, dead insects and mixtures for parrots.
Like many living things, ants fall into hibernation. Insects become inactive, refuse proteins, rarely leave their nests. For this period, you should change the approach to caring for formicarium with your own hands. The temperature must be maintained between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius. An aquarium can, for example, be put in a refrigerator.
Periodically, but not so often, you need to moisten the soil. Hibernation lasts 1-2 months. After this period, you need to bring the formicarium back into heat and gradually warm it up to the usual temperature. The warming process can take up to 7 days.
Here's how to do ant farm with your own hands. At proper care, the owner can get a very interesting and developed ant world. It is interesting to watch him, he is interesting for both children and adults.
For centuries, people have loved to observe the life of such tiny insects as ants. This is not strange, because their behavior is characterized by incredible diligence, responsibility and teamwork. The extraordinary world of these tiny creatures has its own rules, laws and relationships. However, if representatives of this species appear in the house, the reaction of a normal person is obvious - it is necessary to get rid of insects, as they will begin to harm food, get into clothes and bite family members.
True, not all people do this - on the contrary, some of them specially breed ants in domestic anthills. The question arises: for what? Everything is very simple - to monitor the behavior, life and characteristics of these amazing crumbs. Ant farms will be a particularly valuable find if there are children in the house. The fact is that kids are very interested in nature and are ready to explore everything that surrounds them. For this reason, the creation of such a house with ants will satisfy the curiosity of every child.
When wondering how to make an ant farm, pay attention to different types such structures. There are three main varieties in use today:
- soil-sand;
- gel;
- mud.
Ant farm - description
Ant farm is home anthill, which consists of a container with a special gel, sand or other filler. This design makes it easy to monitor the behavior of the ant family. Scientifically, an ant farm is called a formicarium. In the domestic space, similar exotic items appeared relatively recently. Nevertheless, they enjoy decent popularity and are of interest to a large circle of people.
Ant farms are a kind of exotic pets that adapt well to captive rearing and do not need special care. But following the life of tiny creatures is very interesting and funny. In addition, each person will be able to see the development of the colony from the very first days.
Today, formicaria can be seen in offices and other institutions. Many modern people install farms on desktops, because their dimensions remain very compact. Someone uses such structures as original gift for important people. In any case, the ant the farm is a very interesting exhibit, and its inhabitants are the most amazing, beautiful and hardworking creatures that you can watch for hours on end.
Home anthill - a unique world of insects in your home
In nature, you can find a wide variety of species of ants, which are radically different from each other. external features and habits. For example, the Amazon rainforest is home to Amazon ant colonies who know how to rob and destroy anthills of other species, devouring their larvae. Captured insects are quickly turned into slaves and spend the rest of their lives caring for the Amazons.
Also have leaf cutter ants who build their houses inside myceliums. With strong jaws, they freely cut the leaves into small pieces and bring them to the mycelium. From cut leaves, they build their own premises and use greens as food. Under natural conditions, there are real giants whose dimensions exceed 4 centimeters.
Mostly similar Insects can be divided into two groups:
- hunters;
- collectors.
Representatives of the first group you need to constantly look for protein food and carbohydrates, so they pay great attention to finding other insects. Animals spend a significant part of their lives hunting. With the help of special locators - antennae - ants pursue prey by smell. If one ant from a huge colony finds syrup or fruit, when returning back, it leaves marks with the help of the abdomen so that other relatives can also find their way to fresh food. It will be possible to follow such unique moments in a home ant farm.
In its turn, gathering ants lead a completely different lifestyle. The main component of their diet are the seeds of plants such as poppy, rapeseed, millet. However, once they find high-protein foods, they won't pass by. For this reason, they may eat dead insects or boiled chicken(in case we are talking about a domestic anthill). They do not hunt live insects, and any attacks can only be explained by a defensive reaction. These animals are characterized by a unique structure of the colony. It consists of special warehouses that contain seeds and other food, birth rooms, canteens and rooms for caring for young animals. In the complex, this design looks very funny.
Features of the life cycle of ants
Within the same family ants can be divided into several separate castes. Among them:
- scouts;
- working insects;
- soldiers;
- nurse ants;
- queen.
A small percentage of the total population of the colony are scouts. Nevertheless, all types of ants have them, and their activity is very important and consists in discovering unfamiliar territories and searching for new sources of food.
Working class consists of the most industrious individuals who lead construction works, moving food, sorting warehouses and cleaning the anthill. Soldiers are more large sizes, large head and powerful jaw. The role of nurse ants is obvious: they raise the young, feed the larvae and the queen.
The uterus is the main individual of the ant colony. Absolutely all the inhabitants of one anthill are children of one uterus. That is, they are all brothers. The main purpose of the queen is to reproduce offspring. Food is brought to her by other members of the species. Some colonies may have two or more queens.
Each ant farm has its own smells. Even each individual ant has a unique smell, so individuals of the same species can be at enmity with each other.
If you are going to make a formicarium - believe me, kids will just love it. They will look at the structure of the colony and will quickly make insects their favorite pet. In addition, the presence of an anthill in the house will allow them to get to know nature better and forget about harmful technological innovations for a while. Watching the behavior of such tiny creatures, they learn a lot of fascinating facts about nature and the animal world. And for adults, the formicarium will be a great way to relax, which will allow you to relax after a hard day's work.
What are the types of domestic anthills
There are a lot of varieties of formicaria. Among the most common:
- vertical display;
- horizontal;
- volume;
There are also combined options.
In addition, ant farms that can be made at home can vary in filler. Sand, earth, clay, gypsum, aerated concrete and wood are used as it. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. by the most suitable solution considered to be gypsum. At the same time, in Western countries ants are grown in aerated concrete filler.
An important component of a home anthill is the arena where insects spend a significant part of their aboveground life. There they look for food, water and organize dumps. As a rule, such a part of the colony is located in the farthest corner of the formicarium, where insects neatly lay out the garbage in one pile.
If you use your ingenuity and imagination, you can make not just an anthill, but also a real work of naturalistic art.
In the presence of necessary experience, it is possible to implement the construction of a biomodule with an aphid colony, where insects will lead a life as if in natural conditions. Also, many people equip high-quality imitations of the forest, where animals will feel at home.
And even if the procedure for building a formicarium may seem too complicated, do not despair. Subject to the basic rules and subtleties, you will be able to make a truly elegant home anthill that will decorate your home.
Comfortable conditions for breeding ants: features of feeding
In formicaria, it is necessary to ensure optimal temperature regime. It is important to maintain temperature indicators on the level 22-26 degrees Celsius, while the humidity should not fall below 70-90 percent. It is also important to equip effective system ventilation.
Like any other insects, ants need two types of food: protein and carbohydrate. Forage insects (crickets, flour worms, and others) can be used as protein food. You can buy them at any pet store. If insects are not found, you can replace them chicken meat, egg white, fresh or boiled shrimp and other products. When feeding, it is important to pay attention to the quality of food. Street insects can be poisoned by various chemicals, so it is best not to use them.
As for carbohydrates, then everything is very simple here. In their quality, you can use ordinary sugar, previously diluted with water. In addition, you can give animals fructose or glucose. With a special appetite, insects consume fresh fruits such as grapes, pears, apples, oranges and tangerines. Great solution marshmallow or marmalade will become, but experienced owners of domestic anthills do not recommend using industrial sweets.
It is important to note that representatives of certain species completely refuse all of the above products and prefer seeds. There is little trouble with them - a pack of canary food will be the most suitable solution. In any case, you will always find something to feed small pets.
It must be remembered that food for ants must remain fresh and nutritious. Everything else, including the amount of food consumed, the insects will decide on their own.
When growing ants at home, it is enough to perform ground rules care for these tiny creatures and monitor their condition throughout the natural life cycle. In this case, the home anthill will develop fully.
Cats, dogs and hamsters are great, but many people have such pets. What if you want something unusual, interesting and not too expensive? You can make yourself or your child a wonderful gift - an ant farm. The originality of this gift lies, first of all, in the fact that it is quite easy to make it with your own hands.
Preparatory stage
To make an ant farm with your own hands, you need to do a little preparation. To start it is worth deciding on the capacity in which we will settle the restless family. An excellent ant farm is obtained from a flat aquarium, but this requires additional costs. Craftsmen can make a plexiglass container by bonding it with silicone glue. In this case, the design will turn out exactly the form that suits you the most.
The simplest version of an ant farm will be obtained from two containers for bulk products of different sizes. These can be jars or boxes made of transparent material without a pattern and damage, one of which fits freely inside the other. Both jars must have tight lids. You will populate the ant colony in the space between the two banks so that it is convenient to observe her life.
Soil or base for an anthill
The choice of filler for an ant farm depends on where you are going to get its inhabitants:
Be sure to take into account that the mixture of soil and sand should not only be well loosened, but also moistened. However, do not overdo it, if you make the mixture too wet, then the ants will simply drown in it.
Do not fill the container all the way to the top with the mud mixture. Leave a few centimeters of free space. And do not tamp the mixture, but just shake it slightly so that the inhabitants can easily make their own moves.
How to collect ants
The easiest way is to find ants in the yard. There is nothing complicated in this, especially if you connect a restless child to the process. Small anthills are very common, to find them, it is enough to follow where the small workers so purposefully drag their finds.
To collect an ant, take gloves, a scoop and a jar with a tight lid. In the lid you can do fine needle multiple air holes, but they must be so small that insects cannot crawl out. You can drop honey or jam on the bottom, then the ants will gather around the sweets and will not try to get out. Carefully dig up a few anthill inhabitants and place them in a jar. Try to find the mother. It is much larger than the rest of the ants. 30 - 40 inhabitants are enough for your farm.
To populate a farm created with your own hands, you need to consider the following nuances:
- Only working insects can be collected on the surface of the anthill. They are unable to reproduce. To watch the ants lay their eggs and care for them, it is imperative to get the queen queen. Alas, but for this you have to dig an anthill deep enough.
- An ant farm inhabited only by worker ants will last no more than four weeks. This is their natural lifespan.
- In the forest anthills you can find more large species insects than in urban areas. They are easier to look after.
How to care for an ant farm
It is not enough to make a house for an ant family. In order to observe how ants live for a long time, you need to properly care for the farm:
Understand how making an ant farm yourself is not at all difficult. If you involved children in this process, then watching the little inhabitants will be even more interesting. The main thing is to act carefully so that the ants live where it is convenient for you, and not where they want.
As promised, I'm talking about the successful relocation of my ant family to a new anthill π 1. Soldier π Did you know that all the ants in the anthill are girls"/-SorRjo_vVxA/TlFahzQkYlI/AAAAAAAAItI/mL-ZwZ-67Vg/s800/DSC_7398.jpg" /> So, in a test tube, it became a bit crowded for us. Camponotus fellah ants are quite large. The workers are about a centimeter long, and the mother and soldiers are twice as large. More than forty workers with offspring already could hardly fit in a test tube and I decided to build a formicaria (artificial anthill). The principle is simple - pour and drink, you need to cast a block from gypsum or alabaster with ready-made passages and rooms, which will have access to the arena, ventilation and the ability to moisten the structure. Information on the Internet sea! And, with all this, the first time is always an act. As always, before doing something new, I started with the preparation of materials. I bought a box of Ferrero chocolates, a box for beads, a hose, plasticine and a pack of plaster. I started by eating sweets - it helps brain activity a lot π 3. A box of sweets will become an arena. The top is cut off so that the arena is well ventilated. The edges will be smeared with lip gloss so that the ants cannot get out of it. 
4. I cut the partitions in the bead box, cut out holes for ventilation, humidification and entry. Made a sketch of the interior. 
5. According to the sketch put under the glass, fashioned on the glass interior spaces so that they make the most of the depth of the box, but do not reach the back wall. One chamber stands separately - this is the humidification chamber. A tube for cocktails is inserted into it from above (the two chambers above it have the appropriate shape for the passage of the tube). 
6. Model assembled without plaster. 
7. To simplify the process of removing the casting from the box and prevent the gypsum from flowing out through the holes already made, I lined the bottom of the box with cling film. 
I suggested pouring gypsum into a box and cover with glass with a plasticine mold, squeezing out excess gypsum. Actually it's not the most good idea. At least I didn't succeed. True, I have almost zero experience with plaster. The first and last time I cast a plaster mold was when I worked as a polisher in a dental clinic almost twenty years ago. I then carved a skull out of wax, five centimeters in size, and immortalized it in dental plastic. I lost it when moving, it's a pity π So, the first batch began to freeze before I put the mold in. For me, it was a complete surprise and, in an attempt to finish the job, I crushed the glass π ...but still, we are not used to backing down... Using a piece of plastic cut out of a box of chocolates and the remains of gypsum as glass, approximately representing the allotted me a time frame, I still made a casting. Gypsum was a bit lacking. To get the front part right, I turned the mold onto the glass. On the back wall the plaster sank, holes formed in a couple of places, but the front side cast perfectly. 8. Cleaned out the plasticine. 
I dug up a little alabaster in the bins: I covered the holes and built up the sagging areas. When the casting was frozen, but not yet dry: with a knife, I leveled the bumps and burrs, cut through the passages to the ventilation. 9. I soaked the casting in water with detergent for dishes to wash the fat absorbed from plasticine from gypsum. 
I rinsed the casting thoroughly and left it to dry for several days. 10. I got a new piece of glass, assembled the mold and glued it with silicone. 
11. To cover the ventilation, my daughter suggested a nylon mesh. The mesh turned out to be very thin, durable and, thanks to a special weaving, had cells that did not move apart. Tanya also glued the nets with hot glue. 
12. Pre-assembly 
13. Entering the arena 
Well, you can connect. 14. I cut a hole in the old arena and connected a new formik, after wetting it. 
I read a lot about the fact that ants are not very willing to move into new house. To encourage relocation, many keepers darken the new formic. I decided to give my ants some time and leave everything as is. They didn't make me wait long π 15. The scout for a long time and carefully examined the new dwelling, constantly stopping, moving his antennae and cleaning them. 
16. β And your nets are strong"/-cDPv-C1bRQQ/TlFZqd7ouxI/AAAAAAAAIqk/kuOxNjVYzoA/s800/DSC_7279.jpg" /> Quite quickly, there were two scouts, then four. Then about six workers wandered aimlessly around the formica for about an hour, scanning the space with their antennae and imitating everyday life: they cleaned each other, tried to gnaw nets and walls ... In the end, a military expert of soldiers was invited for inspection, and then it began! The eggs were dragged, the larvae and cocoons were left in a test tube. They shift them from place to place, look for eggs and drag them into the form. Pieces of 15 workers and one soldier are sitting with a uterus in a test tube. 17. - To the attention of those relocating: proceed with things to the blue corridor 
18. They dragged ... uh ... robots-nannies :))) The workers dragged the crooked workers, I thought that they were dragging the newly hatched ones, but as soon as the crooked ones were released, they jumped to their feet and started running. I think that they were dragging nannies who never came out of the test tube. 
19. I didn't see where they have the activation button. Most often, after releasing, the transported person got up and began to run. 
20. 
21. But it happened that they forgot to press the activation button and the ant lay in the same position for half an hour 
There are three people in the arena: one soldier and two workers. The rest are all in uniform. In one place they are trying to gnaw at the wall. It turned out that they gnaw at the wall in order to get building materials for laying ventilation. I missed how my mother was transferred. After she left, only larvae, cocoons, one soldier and a group of workers remained in the test tube. 22. A soldier met and fed every incoming porter. 
23. Drag cocoons 
24. The most difficult thing is to drag a larva larger than an ant 
They dragged the last larva. Three workers are sitting in a test tube - they are finishing something, and a half-soldier is sitting at the entrance. There is a soldier and one worker in the arena, the rest are all in uniform π I sealed the two lower ventilation holes. The ants picked up fresh alabaster and shrunk the remaining two ventilation holes by a factor of four. All pupae and larvae were taken out into the tube, only eggs were left inside. They also sit inside. The passages between the chambers are quite large. I hope that two holes will be enough for them. At least they stopped digging π 25. They gnawed fresh alabaster... 
26. ...and sealed the top holes 
27. I thought that all the construction participants would remain with sealed mouths π 
28. But, no - with the help of comrades, almost everyone got rid of the "fillings" in the very first hours after the completion of work 
All pupae were returned to the form. There is no one in the arena... at all. One sits in a test tube. A group of 3-4 workers sometimes drops in on him. They clean themselves there, "kiss" and leave, leaving one. 29. Removed the test tube, changed the arena and put a big drinker. Ant farm is ready π 
It is much better to observe and photograph ants through a flat glass. Finally I was able to photograph the process of unpacking the newborn 30. 
31. 
32. 
33. 
34. 
35. 
As well as packaging ... 36. I noticed that the worker was busy with the larva of a soldier, and she was somehow strangely moving ... inside a thin cocoon! 
37. 
38. 
39. Ants build DNA models from eggs in the air. Probably ventilate 
40. Ants, for some reason, do not really know how to drink open water. Maybe it's just mine"/-PYjNVDLPZOg/TlFbHEHBrJI/AAAAAAAAAIus/YZqKkGCsi7I/s800/DSC_7705.jpg" /> 41. For honey syrup gave them plastic cover from bottled water. He poured boiling water over it, pressed a depression with his finger and dipped it in cold water. It turned out a tall saucer. 
42. It turns out that the larvae have such a red fluff π 
43. I am very pleased that my ants began to eat cat food. I think it's very healthy eating π 
44. Oh social justice: A soldier washes away a worker π 
45. - See you soon π 
When ants appear in the house, most people try to get rid of them as soon as possible. But there are also such lovers who are breeding these unusual pets. After all, a home anthill is good way distract from problems by observing the life of hardworking insects.
Types of formicaria
Home anthill- formicarium - usually has the form of a vertical aquarium. Through its transparent walls it is convenient to observe insects. The container is filled with special material or soil, and in order to prevent the ants from penetrating outside, close it with a lid.
Fillers in such houses can be of several types:
- ground (sand or earth). Its disadvantage is that when using such a filler it is very difficult to monitor the life of insects. After all, their moves are located inside and it is impossible to see them;
- gel, in which the filler is a transparent gel, which is also a breeding ground for insects. It is worth noting that the agar-agar, which the gel consists of, does not deteriorate over a long period;
- acrylic or glass have the form of a container with large quantity tubules. Insects crawl on them, which are very clearly visible, since these formicaria are completely transparent. Their minus is that caring for them is more complicated than, for example, gel home anthills;
- combined consist of several materials with different properties.
How to make an anthill
For those who want to have domestic insects, but do not know how to make an anthill, I would like to inform you that making it yourself will not be difficult. To do this, you can take two jars of different sizes. The first one is larger and with a wide neck should be closed with a screw cap. The smaller container should also have a lid, and its shape should be such that it can be conveniently placed in a large jar.
You can choose and plastic containers the right size: the principle is that the smaller vessel is tightly closed and, being inside the larger one, thereby creating an empty space inside it.
Before you make an anthill with your own hands, you must also prepare:
- Soil mixture consisting of sand and earth in a ratio of 1: 2. If you are going to bring inhabitants to the formicarium from a natural anthill nearby, collect the soil there.
- For making holes in the covers - a nail and a hammer.
- Vatu.
- Sugar syrup.
- Ants in the amount of 10-15 individuals. If you buy them from the farm, check if the soil of the optimal composition is attached to them. Also note that you need to place not only worker ants in the formicarium, but also the uterus.
Before starting work, clean jars should be held over the steam for several minutes, and then wait until they dry. Next, you need to place a small jar in a large one and fix it with glue or tape exactly in the middle. You need to make some very small holes with an awl in the lid large capacity. In the small lid, you need to make one small hole and insert a cotton swab into it.
The soil is loosely filled into the space between the banks, not to the top - so that the ants cannot accidentally get out. Immediately after that, you can run insects. A swab in a small lid should be moistened with sugar syrup, thus ensuring their nutrition. Then big jar closed with a lid.
Nutrition Features
As living organisms, ants constantly need food, so the owners of formicariums need to take care of this. The feeding process is very simple: you need to open the lid of the home anthill and leave food in the so-called arena. Food for insects should be selected in accordance with the type of ants that are contained in the formicarium.
For example, some ants prefer plant foods, while others love sweets or ordinary bread crumbs. It is important to carefully monitor that there is not too much food in such a house, since insects are not able to process it on time or send it to the trash, and as a result, mold may appear in the home anthill.
Some owners of home ant farms recommend planting green grass on top of the ground.
How to care for insects
A very crucial moment in caring for domestic ants is moisturizing the formicarium. It should be remembered that excess moisture can simply kill insects. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the places most remote from their accumulations with water. After that, the ants themselves will select the optimal conditions for themselves.
These insects build tunnels at night, so it is important to remember to periodically cover the jar. thick cloth. And in no case should you shake the jar so as not to destroy the passages created by the ants.
You can not leave the ant farm under the influence of direct sunlight - they are detrimental to insects. hot air and high humidity also destroy the inhabitants of the formicarium. However, if an additional arena is equipped in such a structure, you can place pebbles on it and direct an incandescent lamp at them. This is a good way to provide heating for the ant litter.
Ants. Secret Force of Nature: Video