5 replies to this topic

[mete]

I have a small three piece setup, arena, nest for seed storage and nest (for Messor barbarus colony). They are connected with hoses (arena to seed storage, seed storage to nest) and both the arena and the nest has openings for air flow. So there should be a natural air flow. However, I can also put a fan above the arena. Is there any benefit of such forced air flow ? If so, would it matter to blow the air inside or outside ? 

Edited by mete, August 14 2024 - 9:56 AM.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

I have a small three piece setup, arena, nest for seed storage and nest (for Messor barbarus colony). They are connected with hoses (arena to seed storage, seed storage to nest) and both the arena and the nest has openings for air flow. So there should be a natural air flow. However, I can also put a fan above the arena. Is there any benefit of such forced air flow ? If so, would it matter to blow the air inside or outside ? 

It will probably cause the ants to think the outworld is ACCTUALLY outside so they will not treat it like nest space, It also gets rid of the bad chemicals in that are released by the garbage pile but can help the spread of mold but about the inside outside thing, I can't really think about the benefits of each one, do you mean the fan blows in the nest and out? because it is better to blow the air in the nest, but not too strong 

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, August 14 2024 - 10:18 AM.

[Artisan_Ants]

I have a small three piece setup, arena, nest for seed storage and nest (for Messor barbarus colony). They are connected with hoses (arena to seed storage, seed storage to nest) and both the arena and the nest has openings for air flow. So there should be a natural air flow. However, I can also put a fan above the arena. Is there any benefit of such forced air flow ? If so, would it matter to blow the air inside or outside ? 

From what I've heard and witnessed, ants pretty much hate wind and when I sometimes accidentally blow on my Camponotus colony while workers are foraging so I can clean out their outworld, they get startled and run off into their nest instead of slow and steadily doing their tasks like usual. Of course Messor and Camponotus are completely different genus's they could still have the same interactions with the same thing (basically stating that Messor could also feel startled like Camponotus as a reaction to wind in the wild or being blowed on). I've observed in the wild with other species like Formica, Aphenogaster, and Tetramorium, they all get startled to being blowed on or just wind in general (I've mainly noticed this with Tetramorium as when they do their occasional ant wars, I've blowed on them and they all run away and disperse and stop fighting). In conclusion, your Messor colony may not like direct wind (unless wind it common in their collected habitat) and may be more active in the wrong way (as to being startled too often). It is better out of the two options, to blow outwards rather than to blow inwards towards their nest and seed storage. Hope this helps!

[mete]

 

I have a small three piece setup, arena, nest for seed storage and nest (for Messor barbarus colony). They are connected with hoses (arena to seed storage, seed storage to nest) and both the arena and the nest has openings for air flow. So there should be a natural air flow. However, I can also put a fan above the arena. Is there any benefit of such forced air flow ? If so, would it matter to blow the air inside or outside ? 

It will probably cause the ants to think the outworld is ACCTUALLY outside so they will not treat it like nest space, It also gets rid of the bad chemicals in that are released by the garbage pile but can help the spread of mold but about the inside outside thing, I can't really think about the benefits of each one, do you mean the fan blows in the nest and out? because it is better to blow the air in the nest, but not too strong 

 

 

Good point about outworld vs. nest space.

 

Yes I meant the fan can (pull the air from the room) and blow it into (the arena) or (pull) blow the air from the arena to the room. My setup is from antcube, and antcube also has a fan as a product, and as far as I can tell from the photo, it seems like it is blowing out (taking the air from the arena and pushes it out). At the moment I also have a similar (custom) fan.

[mete]

 

I have a small three piece setup, arena, nest for seed storage and nest (for Messor barbarus colony). They are connected with hoses (arena to seed storage, seed storage to nest) and both the arena and the nest has openings for air flow. So there should be a natural air flow. However, I can also put a fan above the arena. Is there any benefit of such forced air flow ? If so, would it matter to blow the air inside or outside ? 

From what I've heard and witnessed, ants pretty much hate wind and when I sometimes accidentally blow on my Camponotus colony while workers are foraging so I can clean out their outworld, they get startled and run off into their nest instead of slow and steadily doing their tasks like usual. Of course Messor and Camponotus are completely different genus's they could still have the same interactions with the same thing (basically stating that Messor could also feel startled like Camponotus as a reaction to wind in the wild or being blowed on). I've observed in the wild with other species like Formica, Aphenogaster, and Tetramorium, they all get startled to being blowed on or just wind in general (I've mainly noticed this with Tetramorium as when they do their occasional ant wars, I've blowed on them and they all run away and disperse and stop fighting). In conclusion, your Messor colony may not like direct wind (unless wind it common in their collected habitat) and may be more active in the wrong way (as to being startled too often). It is better out of the two options, to blow outwards rather than to blow inwards towards their nest and seed storage. Hope this helps!

 

 

I am using a very light air flow, hard to feel by finger (only noticible when very close) (and specifically 6.9m3/h, less than the one offered by antshop). I have not observed any difference in behaviour yet but I will keep this in mind, thanks.

 

antshop also has a fan and I think it is also blowing outwards, and it also makes more sense to me.

[Artisan_Ants]

 

 

I have a small three piece setup, arena, nest for seed storage and nest (for Messor barbarus colony). They are connected with hoses (arena to seed storage, seed storage to nest) and both the arena and the nest has openings for air flow. So there should be a natural air flow. However, I can also put a fan above the arena. Is there any benefit of such forced air flow ? If so, would it matter to blow the air inside or outside ? 

From what I've heard and witnessed, ants pretty much hate wind and when I sometimes accidentally blow on my Camponotus colony while workers are foraging so I can clean out their outworld, they get startled and run off into their nest instead of slow and steadily doing their tasks like usual. Of course Messor and Camponotus are completely different genus's they could still have the same interactions with the same thing (basically stating that Messor could also feel startled like Camponotus as a reaction to wind in the wild or being blowed on). I've observed in the wild with other species like Formica, Aphenogaster, and Tetramorium, they all get startled to being blowed on or just wind in general (I've mainly noticed this with Tetramorium as when they do their occasional ant wars, I've blowed on them and they all run away and disperse and stop fighting). In conclusion, your Messor colony may not like direct wind (unless wind it common in their collected habitat) and may be more active in the wrong way (as to being startled too often). It is better out of the two options, to blow outwards rather than to blow inwards towards their nest and seed storage. Hope this helps!

 

 

I am using a very light air flow, hard to feel by finger (only noticible when very close) (and specifically 6.9m3/h, less than the one offered by antshop). I have not observed any difference in behaviour yet but I will keep this in mind, thanks.

 

antshop also has a fan and I think it is also blowing outwards, and it also makes more sense to me.

 

Then this should be fine for them as you suggested that there was no change in behavior. I was thinking that it may have been a larger fan (for home use) rather than one specifically designed for ants. As long as it's low and cool, the ants won't really react to it unless it is harsh like natural wind or that of when we exhale.