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Post by amy on Mar 19, 2013 18:01:28 GMT
Another solution for mesh would be using a double layer of car mesh. One layer is no good they squeeze through it! I don't know of any hard red acrylic, but maybe another idea would be to visit "HobbyCraft" for red film, they have centers everywhere in the South  I have a friend who works at hobbycraft, brilliant! I can easily source acetate also, as crockett mentioned. I've sent an email to the acrylic company regarding the types of plastics they sell as I'm hoping to source something a little more hard-wearing to prevent scratches when putting the sand-loam and clay granules in. I've been researching temperature lately also, and was wondering how lighting the farm might work - using a red lamp on the nest areas for extra warmth? Or will this create mold..? Thank you all for your replies ! |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Mar 19, 2013 18:01:40 GMT
Can't offer advice on the acrylic, but Odesssus did sell some very fine metal mesh stuff. Is Odesssus a person, distributor, or company, etc? Odessus is a member of the forum, so you can send him a PM and ask if he still has any mesh for sale.  |
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Post by odesssus on Mar 19, 2013 18:37:28 GMT
I do indeed still have the fine steel mesh for sale over 200 holes per square inch. it's £1.50 a square foot plus p+p |
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Post by amy on Mar 20, 2013 11:21:52 GMT
I will want your mesh my friend! I'm finalizing my sketches this weekend, and building the wooden slats that the tanks will slot into for extra security so I should know how much I'll be needing by Monday. Woohoo!
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Hibernating
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2013 23:54:58 GMT
How is this project going? I am really interested in seeing it when finished  . |
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Post by amy on Apr 16, 2013 18:11:12 GMT
Hello! It's going okay, actually?! I had to draw up proper isometric and orthographic projections of all the acrylic structures and had to contact a lot of different acrylic companies but the acrylic has been ordered and I'll be making wooden frames for all of the nests. However, the time scale just doesn't mean I'll be able to actually use these structures in my degree piece but instead I have just ordered pre-fabricated constructions, which I am waiting to arrive. I will still build the other farm as I have all the pieces but probably not till the autumn when I have more free time on my hands. But yeah, now the pieces are on the way I will be able to introduce the ants to their environment in the next 2-3weeks. I just have to decide which ant types to use... I want to have a colony of Lasius Niger in one, Lasius Flavus in another and I have also been reading up on Formica Cunicula, the mining ant? And Formica fusca as they are bigger ants which might make for a more interesting viewing experience. Any information, reservations or thoughts anyone has on any of these species will be helpful. I am concious of the time frame as the show itself is on the 25th of June and I've been reading the hatching cycles of Lasius species can be anywhere from 24 - 48 days (??) Any info on the Formica species would be appreciated!  |
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Post by amy on Apr 16, 2013 18:19:42 GMT
The nests I'd use for the formica fusca/cunicula ants will be 20 cm (H) x 30 cm (L) x 5 cm (W) and I'm wondering how many ants to introduce if I were to use this species as I'm aware you can purchase workers with the queen from some websites?
For the Lasius Niger there will be another of these tanks, but I am questioning whether I should make a tunnel mould rather than just leaving them to it with the sand mix?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 16, 2013 18:27:35 GMT
Working on the old system where 30cm = 12 inches, the size of nest area could hold a colony of between 50 to 250 ants. While you don't need a queen, it would provide a more normal colony life with her producing any brood.
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Post by amy on Apr 17, 2013 2:15:29 GMT
Working on the old system where 30cm = 12 inches, the size of nest area could hold a colony of between 50 to 250 ants. While you don't need a queen, it would provide a more normal colony life with her producing any brood. Which species is this in reference to, or is it relevant to both? |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 17, 2013 7:50:48 GMT
It applies to both, or any other medium sized ant species for that matter.
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Post by amy on May 15, 2013 12:14:57 GMT
G'day! Got my Messor Barbarus in, but my heat mat hasn't arrived yet so I'm really concerned about the queen  I put them in yesterday and they are very reluctant to leave the test tube at current and I think I've lost a couple of workers. I put plenty of seeds in but I've read they're not fond of honey/sugar, which I found strange? Any advice on what I could give them, I have a couple of protein jellies which I might try out, they seem to be very slow at current. I've covered the tank and nest today with newspaper, card, towels and a bin liner to make it darker to try to encourage them to explore a little but I understand that due to the temperature/stress they might be reluctant and/or confused and hibernating  file://localhost/Users/0900680/Desktop/DEGREE%20SHOW/IMG_2561.JPG
I have a myrmica rubra colony also which James kindly sent which are all about the place so this is encouraging! file://localhost/Users/0900680/Desktop/DEGREE%20SHOW/IMG_2570.JPG |
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Post by amy on May 15, 2013 12:17:58 GMT
Sorry images didn't work in the last post so I'll try again here!  Messor Barbarus queen, I put lots of stones and seeds in this tank.  hungry myrmica rubra! |
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Post by Wood~Ant on May 15, 2013 15:22:23 GMT
Don't worry about the lack of a heat mat for your Messor barb queen, as she will be fine with the temperature of a normal room now the weather is warming up. You'd be surprised at just how tough this species is, as they may come from hot climate countries, but can tolerate a bit of cold as long as they are kept indoors.
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Post by amy on May 16, 2013 12:55:41 GMT
I left a hot water bottle wrapped in that insulated sheet stuff? It's silver and I think used for hypothermia? Anyway, I wrapped the bottle in that so it wasn't boiling hot and placed it on a shelf just below the foraging area last night. This morning all the ants had vacated but I still don't think they've made it into the nest area yet. I do have a heat mat now, do you think it's worth heating the nest area or shall I just leave them to their own devices? I have wrapped the nest with red acetate, newspaper and card, also covering the tubes to try invite them in there too. Maybe some seeds in the nest area to lure the buggers out?  There are lots of deceased Myrmica rubra too getting carried about and dumped in the 'graveyard' they've designated. A few have made it down the tubes into the nest area and are busying themselves too. Not much going on in the Lasius Flavus box, this colony is without a queen, and the food looks fairly untouched... |
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Post by amy on May 16, 2013 12:57:31 GMT
I still need to work on ideas for moving the ants during July after the exhibition, my friend suggested luring them out slowing, removing parts of the soil in sections.
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I put them in yesterday and they are very reluctant to leave the test tube at current and I think I've lost a couple of workers. I put plenty of seeds in but I've read they're not fond of honey/sugar, which I found strange? Any advice on what I could give them, I have a couple of protein jellies which I might try out, they seem to be very slow at current. 
