5 replies to this topic

[Antlover23]

Hi! I am planning to capture a Black Carpenter ant, but for the formicarium, I want to make it dirt based. Will this work? 

Thanks!

[Manitobant]

No. Camponotus pennsylvanicus nest in wood, not dirt, as their common name suggests. I’d recommend buying a professional formicarium from somewhere like tar heel ants or arthropod antics.

[ZTYguy]

You could Aldo’s go with a natural wood formicarium from Foranto but any of the nests that Manitobant named are great.

[Antlover23]

So would you suggest that I rather go for a type of pavement ant? (tetramorium caespitum)

[ColAnt735]

So would you suggest that I rather go for a type of pavement ant? (tetramorium caespitum)

Generally I wouldn't use a dirt based formicarium unless the species of ants require it as I like to watch my ants and dirt based setups kick visibility to the curb. Another reason I wouldn't move ants into a dirt setup is because the tunnels can collapse potentially being lethal to your ants. You can move the Pavement ants into the dirt setup but I wouldn't for reasons I listed earlier. Also the pavement ants found in North America are known as Tetramorium immigrans not Tetramorium caespitum.

Edited by ColAnt735, May 3 2022 - 6:43 PM.

[Antlover23]

Oh ok thanks!