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Study Of Insects - Bugs In The Garden © 2007

Build Uncle Miltons Ant Farm And House Some Ants

An article showing how to build Uncle Miltons Ant Farm to house ants
Ant Farm
Here is the Uncle Miltons Ant Farm, in the box just like it is when you bring it home or receive it in the mail. This is a fun ant house to build and the ants are very entertaining when they tunnel.

These are the items you should receive in the box - ant farm frame, base, plastic connector tube for connecting multiple ant farms, plastic stick, two bags of white sand, instruction sheet. For ants you will receive a coupon to order them from Uncle Milton. The ants will take a few weeks to arrive. But you can go ahead and build the ant farm, if you like.
Ant Farm Base
Turn the base upside down and remove the base from the ant farm.
Ant Farm Top Frame
Next, remove the top frame which covers the slot in the top of the ant farm.
Ant Farm
Install the base at the top of the farm. The base will support the farm in an upside down position on the work table in the next step.
Ant Farm Upside Down
Place the ant farm upside down on a flat work surface using the base to support it.
Ant Farm Sand
Using a scissors, cut a corner off both bags of sand.
Ant Farm Fill
Very carefully pour the contents of both bags of sand into the farm. Shake the farm from side to side occasionally to settle the sand and distribute it evenly in the farm.
Ant Farm Full Of Sand
The farm is now full is sand, ready for the next step.

Carefully pick up the farm and remove the base from the top of the farm. Replace the frame on the bottom of the farm.
Ant Farm Water
Turn the farm over, place back on work table right side up. Pour approximately 2 ounces of water slowly into the farm to moisten the sand. Do not add too much water. You are not making sand soup.
Ant Farm Poke Cotton
Using the long stick, poke the cotton swab in the hole in the ant farm down into the sand. It is not necessary to remove it.
Ant Farm Check Cover
Make sure the top cover fits snugly before adding the ants. Remove again.
Ant Farm Ants
If you sent for your ants, this is what they come in - a small plastic sealed tube. Place this tube in the refrigerator for about fifteen minutes before adding them to the farm. This is to slow the little varmints down. You want them pretty inactive when you add them to the farm. DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE FREEZER.
Ant Farm Add Ants
Remove the ants from the refridgerator, take off the top and carefully shake the ants into the ant farm. Be careful, the ants may be somewhat active at this stage.
Ant Farm Replace Top
Replace the top of the ant farm, quickly so none of the ant escape.
Ant Farm In New Home
The ants are now in their new home. Feed them now - a bit of sugar water or a small amount of fresh fruit. Do not over do - better to put in a very very small amount than too much.
Ant Farm Start Work
The ants will start to move around very quickly. This us about an hour after putting them in the farm.
The life cycle of the ant is studied in this article.
Ant article
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