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Wooden ant nest questions.


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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Virginian_ants - Posted July 16 2023 - 8:41 AM

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I've been thinking to make wooden ant nest for a while now and I have questions.

1. Would plywood work?

2. I was looking at Foranto to nests for inspiration and a few of them had water towers for hydration. Would this work to not damage the nest?

3. Would a Camponotus Castaneus colony with 50-100 workers do well with it.

4. Would a router work?

Thanks in advance.

Edited by Virginian_ants, July 16 2023 - 9:32 AM.


#2 Offline UtahAnts - Posted July 16 2023 - 9:30 AM

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1. Don't use plywood, not only is it treated but the processed wood is easy to chew through.

2. Some woods have more resistance to humidity than others. Generally try to use hardwoods.

3. Most Camponotus do well in wood nests, regardless of size.

4. Yes, routers are great.


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#3 Offline Virginian_ants - Posted July 16 2023 - 9:32 AM

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Ok thanks.

#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 16 2023 - 9:59 AM

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C. castaneus primarily nest in soil. I feel other species would be a better choice.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#5 Offline Virginian_ants - Posted July 16 2023 - 10:00 AM

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My colony is about to outgrow their current nest and I want to make the new one myself.

Edited by Virginian_ants, July 16 2023 - 10:00 AM.


#6 Offline Barristan - Posted July 16 2023 - 10:20 AM

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Plywood also works, it is only glued together with non toxic wood glue. It has the advantage to not deform as badly as regular wood if it gets moist (but don't moisturize any wood nest).

Router works fine too, that's what the commercial wood nest sellers use.



#7 Offline Virginian_ants - Posted July 16 2023 - 10:21 AM

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Okay

#8 Offline Virginian_ants - Posted July 16 2023 - 10:57 AM

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I chopped down a lot of sycamores in my back yard and I have a lot of dry pieces of it. Would this w work for a nest.




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