How to Make a Simple Outworld - AntsCanada Tutorial #32

Summary

This video tutorial guides viewers on creating a captivating and functional living space for a captive ant colony. It emphasizes the importance of both a nest section and an 'out world' for foraging and waste management. The host demonstrates how to construct a simple out world using a critter crawler, grout, fake plants, and other materials, ensuring a simple design to prevent ants from nesting there. The process includes mixing grout, shaping the out world, adding decorations, and finishing with sand for a natural look, resulting in an appealing and practical habitat for the ants.

Takeaways

• 🏠 A captive ant colony requires a nest section and an out world section for foraging, establishing garbage sites, and burial grounds.
• 📏 Larger out worlds or more of them are better for larger colonies, providing more space for ants to explore and function.
• 🛠️ To create an out world, a critter crawler or aquarium with rounded edges is recommended to prevent ants from escaping.
• 🔨 For creating entry holes in plastic, use cone or ball-shaped drill bits, or alternatively, heat a knife to bore a hole.
• 💧 Reinforce the entry hole with silicone caulking to ensure no ants can escape through it.
• 🌿 Decorate the out world with materials like books for elevation, grout for a hard surface, fake plants, twigs, and stones.
• 🛖 Use grout instead of soil to prevent ants from digging and nesting in the out world, which should be slanted to increase surface area.
• 🎨 Mix grout with water to a toothpaste-like consistency for easy application and to avoid inhaling dust, which can cause allergic reactions.
• 🌳 Decorate with simple, not overly intricate designs to avoid providing too many hiding places for ants.
• 🗺️ Rocks and twigs are used to create natural-looking paths and rocky outcrops, enhancing the visual appeal of the out world.
• 🏜️ Sand is used as a final covering to give the out world a naturalistic finish, with different grains for varied textures.

Q & A

What are the two essential sections for a captive ant colony's living space?

A captive ant colony needs a nest section and an outworld section, also known as a basin, where ants can forage, establish garbage sites, and burial grounds.

Why is it beneficial to have a larger outworld for an ant colony?

A larger outworld or having multiple outworlds is beneficial, especially for large colonies, because it provides more space for foraging and other activities, promoting a healthier and more active colony.

What type of container is recommended for creating an outworld and why?

A critter crawler made of acrylic is recommended because its rounded edges make it harder for some species of ants to escape compared to containers with straight, squared edges.

What materials are needed to create the outworld?

Materials needed include a critter crawler, books, grout (or cement), fake plants, twigs, a tub, a stirring tool, stones, sphagnum moss, and sand.

What is the purpose of tilting the outworld upwards using books?

Tilting the outworld upwards increases the surface area within the home, providing more space for the ants to explore and making the display more visually appealing.

Why should grout be used instead of soil for the outworld base?

Grout should be used instead of soil to prevent ants from digging into the earth portion of the outworld, ensuring they stay in the designated nest area rather than nesting in the outworld.

What should the consistency of the grout mixture be?

The grout mixture should be as thick as toothpaste or have a consistency similar to loose peanut butter or melting ice cream.

Why should real plants be avoided in the outworld?

Real plants should be avoided because they require soil and water, which can lead to ants creating nests in the outworld. Fake plants are recommended to avoid this issue.

What is the importance of not making the outworld decorations too intricate?

Decorations should not be too intricate to prevent ants from hiding and nesting in the outworld. A simpler design makes it easier to clean and manage the ant colony.

What is the final step in creating the outworld and why is it important?

The final step is to add sand over the exposed grout to give the outworld a naturalistic finish. This step is important for aesthetic purposes and to ensure the grout is fully covered and protected.