11 replies to this topic

[Jadeninja9]

What’s up ant people. I’m going to carve a wooden nest for my Camponotus hyatti colony soon out of dead manzanita which is something they naturally nest in. Does anyone know how to sterilize dead wood? I first thought about putting it in the oven then I realized that would probably burn my house down 😎

[PetsNotPests]

Depending on how large the piece of wood is, I just stick it in my freezer for a few days. After that, I never see any life (besides the ants) on the wood. Good luck with the nest!

[ANTdrew]

I would boil it or steam it.

[PetsNotPests]

I would boil it or steam it.

That would work too, but it could rot the wood overtime. To avoid that just let the wood dry in the sun for a few days. 

[Jadeninja9]

Thanks guys!

[PetsNotPests]

No problem! Keep us updated on this wood nest project of yours!

[brian]

I put the the wood i need for reptile and frogs into the oven set for 200. Keeping an eye on it obviously and bake low and slow for 2 hours. Never had a problem with suprise life after that.

[alwayslearning]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

I just picked some wood for my Camponotus, and... I will boil it and then try to dry it in the oven. We will see how it works

[futurebird]

I think the oven is the best option. Freezing wood could cause strange ice crystals and weaken it a bit. If you have an oven that can do 150F or so that would be even better. As long as you keep it in long enough it doesn't take much heat to kill things. 

 

HOWEVER

 

I want us also to think about if sterilization is always the best bet? If you have a sterile environment anything that gets in can go buckwild. Part of what makes wood nests good for ants IMO is their natural sap and moisture content which wood dwelling ants are adapted to. 

 

So maybe don't desicate the wood? Just treat it enough to kill any mites? 

Another way to make it safer is to simply store it for a long time. 

Edited by futurebird, August 27 2021 - 1:33 PM.

[alwayslearning]

You have a great point.

If we want to kill everything we could easily add just decorative wood.

 

I want to be sure that I'm not introducing mites or any other arthropods that can cause problems and kill my colony.

Also, I don't know if the wood I picked is suitable for all species (nor particularly Camponotus) and safe to use... I picked pine, redwood... I know this is not good for aquariums but I don't know about ant's nests. Will love to receive advice about this. 

 

 

I think the oven is the best option. Freezing wood could cause strange ice crystals and weaken it a bit. If you have an oven that can do 150F or so that would be even better. As long as you keep it in long enough it doesn't take much heat to kill things. 

 

HOWEVER

 

I want us also to think about if sterilization is always the best bet? If you have a sterile environment anything that gets in can go buckwild. Part of what makes wood nests good for ants IMO is their natural sap and moisture content which wood dwelling ants are adapted to. 

 

So maybe don't desicate the wood? Just treat it enough to kill any mites? 

Another way to make it safer is to simply store it for a long time. 

[ANTdrew]

Just boil the wood and air dry.

[alwayslearning]

This is what I ended up doing:

1. Boiled it for 30mins

2. Baked it for 1.30mins at 200F

3. I will let it end drying next to a window for a couple of days...

We will see! Thanks a lot!