Creating your own ant farm will be a great experience if you've ever wondered what's beneath the surface.Introducing an ant colony to your 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 jars with lids.
You will need a large jar and a smaller one.The space between the small jar and the 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 naturally 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 bigger container.There are jars without numbers or letters.Clear glass gives you the best view of ants.If you want to have a flat ant farm, check out your local pet store and purchase a skinny aquarium.You can purchase an ant farm setup from online retailers.
Step 2: Prepare a sand and soil mixture.
The ants will need a moist material to dig and tunnel.If you want to source the ants from your yard or a nearby area, the best bet is to use dirt they already live in.You can fill up the extra space in your jar by digging up some dirt.To loosen the dirt, use a fork or your fingers.If your dirt is already sandy, mix 2 parts dirt with 1 part sand.If you don't plan 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.The ants will dry out if it's too wet.
Step 3: Find an anthill.
Many species of ants nest in the ground.There are anthills in your yard.The tell-tale volcano-shaped pile of small grains of dirt has a tiny entrance hole near the top.Tracking ants is a good way to find an anthill.Follow the ants back to their nest if you see them walking.You should observe the anthill 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 should be collected.
Once you've identified an ant colony, take a jar with a few holes poked in it outside and scoop some ants into it.A good amount of ants is needed to start your ant farm.The ants probably won't reproduce unless you have a queen in your ant farm.The queen of an ant colony lays all the eggs and a group of worker ants are likely to be sterile.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 her 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 bigger 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, put the lid on securely.
Step 6: The dirt mixture needs to be filled with the rest of 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.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 and make sure they get into the dirt.To get oxygen to reach the ants, cover the jar and use awl or knife to 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: Give them food and water.
In order 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'll have mold in your ant farm.If the dirt and sand mixture looks 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.This will attract pests to your ant farm.Don't put water in the jar.The ants could drown if it gets too wet.
Step 9: If you aren't watching the ants, cover the jar.
In the dark, ants do their tunneling.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: If you shake the jar, don't do it.
When an ant's tunnels collapse, shaking the jar or handling it roughly can cause them to die.Carefully handling the ant farm.
Step 11: The farm can be kept in a room.
It's best to put 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.