Creating your own ant farm will be a fascinating learning experience if you've ever wondered what's beneath the surface.Introducing an ant colony to your own farm will give you a first-rate view of ants building intricate tunnels and paths.You can see Step 1 to learn how to make an ant farm.
Step 1: There are two glass jars with lids.
You will need a large jar and a small jar.The space between the small jar and large jar will be filled with dirt and ants.The ant colony will build tunnels and lay eggs close to the outer edge if the small jar is used as a way to take up space in the middle.The ants will want to burrow into the middle of the jar if this step is skipped.This project can be done with different-sized canning jars.If you want your ants to be happy, buy a larger container.Look for jars with no etching, raised numbers or letters.Clear glass gives you the best view of the ants.If you want to have a flat ant farm, check out your local pet store and buy a skinny aquarium.You can get an ant farm setup from online retailers.
Step 2: Prepare a mixture of sand and soil.
The ants need a moist loose material to dig and tunnel.If you want to source ants from your yard or a nearby area, the best bet is to use dirt they already live in.To get the extra space in your jar, you need to dig up some dirt.To loosen the dirt, use a fork or your fingers.If your dirt is already sandy, you should mix 2 parts dirt with 1 part sand.If you aren't planning on getting your ants from a nearby location and the dirt you have on hand is not suitable, you can mix the sand and soil from the gardening store.The ant farm kit should have the right mixture for the ants.The mix should be slightly moist but not soaking wet.If it's too wet, the ants will drown.
Step 3: You can find an anthill.
Many species of ants nest in the ground.There are anthills in your yard.It's an anthill because of the volcano-shaped pile of small grains of dirt with a tiny entrance hole near the top.Another way to find an anthill is by tracking ants.Follow the ants back to their nest if you see them walking.The anthill should be observed to make sure you aren't dealing with fire ants.There are brown field ants.Order your ants online as part of an ant farm kit to be on the safe side.
Step 4: The ants need to be collected.
Once you've found a colony of ants, take a jar with a few holes poked in it outside and scoop some ants into it.A good amount of ants should be enough to start your ant farm.The ants probably won't reproduce unless you include a queen in your ant farm.A group of worker ants are likely to be sterile because the queen lays all the eggs.If you want to see ants lay eggs, you'll need to get a queen, which can be tricky, and destroy the natural ant colony.A kit that comes with a queen ant is a better bet if you want to see the reproductive cycle.You won't have to dig into the ant's nest to get what you need.Another way to raise a colony is to catch a queen during its nuptial flight.If you don't have a queen, the ants will die within 3 - 4 weeks, which is their natural lifespan.
Step 5: Put a cap on the smaller jar and put it in the larger jar.
Glue or tape can be put on the bottom of the jar to keep it centered in the middle.Since you don't want ants falling in, make sure you put the lid on securely.
Step 6: The dirt mixture needs to be filled with the remaining space in the jar.
If you want to fill the extra space with dirt, spoon it in or use a funnel.The ants will be able to move around if the dirt is loose and nice.At the top of the jar, leave about an inch of empty space.A layer of dirt will serve as the ants' home.An inch of empty space will prevent the ants from climbing up the glass and out of the jar when you need to open it.
Step 7: Put the ants in the jar and put the lid on it.
Drop the ants in the jar to make sure they get into the dirt.To get oxygen to reach the ants, cover the jar with awl or knife and puncture it with tiny holes.If you punch the holes too large, the ants will escape and build a nest elsewhere.ants will chew their way out if the jar is covered with cloth.
Step 8: Provide them with food and water.
To keep your ants happy, you can give them a few drops of honey, jam, or pieces of fruit every few days.If you do too much, you will have mold in your ant farm.If the dirt and sand mixture appears to be getting dry, place a cotton ball with water at the top of the jar and let it sit for a few days.Don't cook the ants meat.It will attract pests to your ant farm.Water shouldn't be poured into the jar.It will get too wet and the ants will drown.
Step 9: When you're not watching the ants, cover the jar.
The ants do their tunneling in the dark.If you're not watching the ants, cover the jar with black cloth or construction paper.The ants will be less active if you don't do this.They will stay away from the glass and spend their time close to the center of the jar.
Step 10: Don't shake the jar.
When an ant's tunnels collapse on them, shaking the jar or handling it roughly can cause them to die.Carefully handling the ant farm.
Step 11: The farm should be kept in a warm room.
Place it in a room with a good temperature.Don't place it in the sun or the glass jar will heat up and make the ants sick.