6 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

So I have an empty tank that I'm planning on turning into a terrarium. I'm thinking of putting Camponotus pennsylvanicus in, but they need wood to nest in, and standard wood seems kind of hard to dig in. Is there a particular type of wood, or a certain way I should prepare the wood for them to nest in? And how do I water it? Do I just put water on the wood? Please help!

[MegaMyrmex]

You could do that or mist the enclosure.

[Mettcollsuss]

Also, how much wood should I give them?

[Martialis]

A piece of dead log should work -- make sure there are NO other ants inside it, though.

 

Anything but the first stage of decomposition, which looks similar to this:

 

It basically resembles what the tree looked like when it was alive, and is usually pretty hard. Usually, the older the rot, the softer the wood.

Edited by Martialis, September 12 2017 - 3:38 AM.

[Mettcollsuss]

Would plywood work?

[Noah Norman]

Ply wood has chemicals in it. Try and just find a large piece of wood and maybe drill some pilot holes to get the ants started. During nuptial flights the queens will start of by going into a hole that is already in the wood (from other bugs) and the workers will dig and make the nest larger.

[Serafine]

Camponotus do NOT need wood to nest it. They can do well in a lot of nests (Acrylics, Ytong, 3D-printed), actually they are really easy because they do well in dry nests which prevents mold issues. Also when the colony is large enough to actually leave the tube and nest in the wood you don't have to water it at all - just provide them a water source (test tube setup with water) ad they will water the nest on their own if needed.

Edited by Serafine, September 16 2017 - 12:03 PM.