23 replies to this topic

[dean_k]

Hey.

 

I've been thinking of building my own formicarium and right now I have a question.

 

Can ants climb glass walls well?

[Gregory2455]

There are certain species that cannot climb on glass, but most species are good at it.

[dean_k]

Is there a way to prevent them to climb walls ?

[dermy]

Yes most ants are really good at climbing glass.

 

You can either make your own ant barrier out of something like Vaseline [doesn't work for all species!]

 

Some other things are like fluon but I don't know much about it. There are things like insect-a-slip that you can purchase and use.

[Gregory2455]

Fluon and insect-a-slip are the same thing. It is sold by Bioquip, and pretty expensive, but worth it. Actually, Vaseline keeps in all my ants, even Solenopsis xyloni, but Solenopsis invicta will be a different story... The only ant that I keep that has issues climbing glass, but even coarse plastic for that matter, is Pogonomyrmex rugosus, but so did my queens/colony of Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and californicus. It seems all Pogonomyrmex have issues climbing a lot of things vertically.

Edited by Gregory2455, October 21 2014 - 5:43 PM.

[AntsAreUs]

I learned this from AntsCanada, you combine rubbing alchohol with baby powder until it's like a syrup thickness. Then you put it near the top of the container with a brush or Q-tip. One bad thing about this is it falls off when you touch or bump into to it so be careful!

[dermy]

I tried that once and my Myrmica walked over it faster then ever before

[Gregory2455]

Not syrupy thickness. The point of it is for the applied layer to be so thin, that when an ant tries to walk over it, a particle or two would fall off, it is dust after all. The rubbing alcohol is used for this purpose because it evaporates fast, and allows the powder to still have a powdery consistency.

[Tpro4]

i tried that thinking that they were afraid of the smell, but i found out it makes them fall. It doesn't always work though it is very terrible.

[Gregory2455]

You need to apply a super thin layer. 

[Crystals]

Many species can climb glass.  Some climb better than others. Some species can be nearly impossible to contain.

Some methods work better for certain species than for others.

 

Thin layer of olive oil (very thin to prevent drips) - I have seen it contain Myrmica and Formica with ease, while Lasius and Camponotus go right over it.

Fluon (insect-a-slip) - generally very good. Fails in high humidity, and can be worn down over time. I have yet to find a species that can walk upside down on fluon.

Talcum barrier (baby powder and rubbing alcohol) - once dry ants keep fallign off until the barrier is gone. I just find it too messy.

Vaseline - None of my species are stopped by it.

[Mercutia]

I find no matter how thinly I apply olive oil, it always ends up dripping later on.

 

I find vaseline to be very messy and some ants will start taking garbage and sticking it on the vaseline to create a path to walk over it.

 

 

I have a method that is still just a theory. I have yet to test it out but cinnamon has always been a natural ant repellant so I was thinking of getting some double sided tape, coating one end with a healthy dose of cinnamon and the other sticks to the top of the outworld and seeing if that would work. It would still have to be a pretty thick barrier I imagine but as soon as I try it, I'll let you know if it works.

[Mathiacus]

Personally, I use spray on canola oil. I then wipe it thoroughly with a cotton ball. You can't wipe it all off but you can wipe of all of the excess. You MUST get all of the excess.. one run or drip becomes a death sentence for any ant that gets to it.

[Gregory2455]

 I have yet to find a species that can walk upside down on fluon.

I got your species! Solenopsis invicta can cross just about anything... Also grout, plaster, and I think even weak plastics are a bad idea. I am just going to contain mine in a formicarium made of a material they cannot chew through, and a sealed acrylic outworld with tiny holes in it that they cannot fit through. Oh, and I will be building a moat around their habitat.

[Mathiacus]

Best moat ever!
Aquarium-Formicarium Overview HD 1080p:

[Gregory2455]

Thanks for the idea! I am actually going to do this now, except i will have my senegal bichir patrol the water around it to make sure of no survivors.

 

Here is a senegal bichir for anyone wondering. 

Edited by Gregory2455, October 21 2014 - 5:01 PM.

[Mathiacus]

That looks like an adequate moat guard. This is not my video, be sure to chuck a like and some kind words to the original owner.

[Gregory2455]

He will make sure there are no survivors.

[dspdrew]

Talcum powder actually works very well. It just brushes off way too easy, and wears off way too quick. The people having problems with it not working, are likely having these problems because they're putting it on too thick, or they're missing spots. It actually takes some learned skills to get it spread on just right. I recently got some Fluon because of those problems, and so far I've only tried it with Crematogaster and it seems to be working quite well.

[Crystals]

I got your species! Solenopsis invicta can cross just about anything... Also grout, plaster, and I think even weak plastics are a bad idea. I am just going to contain mine in a formicarium made of a material they cannot chew through, and a sealed acrylic outworld with tiny holes in it that they cannot fit through. Oh, and I will be building a moat around their habitat.

The first thread in which I saw an upside down outworld lip covered in fluon was on a fire ant journal.  It was the only thing he had found that gave him peace of mind.  It was a 2 year colony, although he mentioned he had to reduce the number a few times.