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why are my ants covering glass side of the formicarium with debris?

pogonomyrmex occidentalis

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#1 Offline CrantockLad - Posted December 30 2021 - 4:34 PM

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Greetings--

 

First-timer here. Santa just brought us our first ant colony. Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, 1 queen and about 30 workers. They seem to be doing great.

 

We have noticed a strange behavior: they are depositing sand and debris on the glass side of the formicarium, which is irritating, because we'd like to see them better. So:

 

1) why are they doing this?

2) what's the best way to clean this off, without disturbing their habitat (and triggering a mass jailbreak?

 

Many thanks for any insights, and apologies if this is dumb question, I posted in the wrong place, etc

 

Chris 

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#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted December 30 2021 - 4:39 PM

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They are trying to block light. Use a piece of felt, a towel, or some cardboard to give the ants the darkness they’re looking for.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline ryanp347 - Posted December 30 2021 - 7:40 PM

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Ya, logically blocking out light is the only thing that makes sense. Some ants are bothered by it, others aren't. These don't seem to be a fan! A red transparent film is supposed to work and still allow visibility.


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#4 Offline Chickalo - Posted December 30 2021 - 7:58 PM

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Most ants hate light, so they'll block it.  That's why my Pogonomyrmex are doing, too.  I hate light too, so relatable.  Takes one to know one, I guess.


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シグナチャーです。예.

 


#5 Offline CrantockLad - Posted January 3 2022 - 10:40 AM

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Great detective work!

I put the formicarium in the shade and the ants have quit doing this.

But now to the second part...

 

How to clean the glass without opening it up and triggering a mass jail-break!

 

Or is that just standard procedure--open it up, clean it out, and then coax the ants back in?

 

Many thanks for your suggestions,

 

Chris


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#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 3 2022 - 11:43 AM

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You could try putting the ants in the fridge for a while to slow them down. Be careful the temps don’t get too cold, though. Then quickly clean the glass. Best bet in my opinion would be to order a new glass from THA and swap it quickly.
Some of you kids on this forum need to grow up to invent some nanorobots for us to do crap like this.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#7 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 3 2022 - 12:31 PM

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Great detective work!

I put the formicarium in the shade and the ants have quit doing this.

But now to the second part...

 

How to clean the glass without opening it up and triggering a mass jail-break!

 

Or is that just standard procedure--open it up, clean it out, and then coax the ants back in?

 

Many thanks for your suggestions,

 

Chris

 

I noticed you said you moved them to the shade. I hope you mean shade from indoor lighting, because you definitely don't want to keep that thing in any direct sunlight.


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#8 Offline CrantockLad - Posted January 3 2022 - 1:40 PM

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Yes, shade from indoor lighting. No direct sunlight here! (Plus we're in Oregon, so no sunlight of any kind for 6 months :)


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