3 replies to this topic

[Ant234]

Hi,

I just had a quick question, what is different in appearance of regular ant nest openings and a queen's founding chambers?

Thanks!

[ANTdrew]

Founding chambers are very small and basically sealed off by the queen. The first nanitics will open an exit way that is probably no more than two times wide as the workers. That would make it far smaller than the tubing used in the hobby, which is why a lot of ants will pile up sand or debris around tubing to customize it more to their liking.

[dspdrew]

Founding chambers are usually made up of small dirt clods that the queen packed together when it was wet. There is also usually a small space between the hole and the discarded dirt also.

 

Below is a thread I made to help people spot founding chambers. It's specifically Veromessor pergandei founding chambers, which can be a little harder to spot, because some harvester ants dig chambers in fairly dry conditions sometimes and the dirt may not be in very well formed clods.

 

https://www.formicul...unding-chamber/

[Ant234]

Ok thanks!